Schools & the RHS

Greetland Primary School Gardening Club

Last year, I was lucky enough to be asked to involve the Reception and Year One classes in some gardening. The children selected seeds for the classroom flowerbeds, using the internet sites of a number of seed suppliers. They chose the plants they wanted and wrote to a number of companies to ask for their help. We had great support and were soon able to start planting seeds and nurturing our expanding nursery of plants. We planted everything outside and waited for the results. It was not long before there was a riot of colour to greet everyone each morning.

Our Head, Amanda Bennett, has been a keen supporter of the children's work and with the support of FOGS (The Friends of Greetland School), the playground has also been transformed.

This year’s projects are: 

• Maintaining the classroom flowerbeds
• Developing our new fruit and vegetable areas
• Developing a new outdoor classroom
• Continuing to develop a nature trail among trees at the edge of the school field
• Making a living willow tunnel/snake with the children.

In addition, the children's enthusiasm was so fantastic last year that the school offered an after-school wildlife and gardening club to Year 1. This was regularly attended by more than 30 children. The children's successes have also captured the enthusiasm of more of the school staff so who knows where it will end?

Kath Holford
Gardening Teacher