School Gardening

With funds from ADAS and the Friends of Audlem School Parent Association for materials, seeds and plants, the Gardening Club offers a free after school club for up to 14 children each Monday.  The volunteers are invaluable in supporting the school staff to run the club and also keeping the garden watered and under control during the school holidays.

The volunteers are all experienced gardeners with a wealth and knowledge, and with 2 retired teachers amongst them, they are able to run the club even when Mrs Spooner, the teacher lead, has other school commitments.  (All volunteers are DBS checked by school).

At the beginning of the school year the volunteers started planning the next 3 years by setting out Aims, objectives and potential projects.

Aims of the Gardening Club:

·      To encourage enthusiasm and joy in growing plants

·      To learn about and enjoy the natural world and its interaction with the garden

·      To enjoy the produce they have grown, both edible and decorative

Objectives

Through problems-based learning:

·      observe, record, and discuss its effect on the garden.

·      To track in the logbook plantings growth rates and harvest success.

·      To observe from experimental plantings, e.g., indoor versus outdoor, according to the seasons.

·      To track the effect of the weather on the plants, and to be able to draw conclusions, discussed and recorded at each meeting.

·      To observe the effects of under and over-watering plants.

·      Develop wildlife habitats, including the pond.

·      To learn the purposes of the garden tools and learn to use them safely.

·      To make simple garden tools like a seed pressure pad, plant signs, et cetera.

Projects:

·      Establish a small pond.

·      Rebuild the bug hotel with the addition of a living roof.

·      To establish a wormery.

·      To increase flower planting using those likely to benefit wildlife and those to deter pests.

·      Develop a wildlife habitat and the pond and bug hotel.

·      Develop the use of the polytunnel for planting and growing.

·      To maximize the available growth space by reorganization and removal of unused items, including bike shed.

·      Create a better compost area and improve their skills of making compost.

·      Build a small fire pit to cook on a few vegetables that the children can eat.

·      Obtain and fit a second water butt.

·      To create more vertical planting opportunities.