Gardening
A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust. — Gertrude Jekyll
My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece. – Claude Monet
Gardeners, I think, dream bigger dreams than emperors. – Mary Cantwell
We are incredibly lucky to have extensive grounds on our school site and gardening is a wonderful way to use some of our space. We have really supportive school community, and we are lucky enough to have many people willing to volunteer to during our ‘Grounds Days.’ On one of these days a kind generous group of people built us four raised beds in which we grow herbs, fruit and vegetables. The children are fully involved in planting and harvesting, and we provide produce for the wider community on an honesty table outside of school.
The mental health benefits of gardening have been widely documented and many of our student and staff are keen gardeners. The beauty of gardening is that it teachers both respect for living things and patience. We have completed the RHS Level 4 School gardening award and are working towards the Level 5 award.
See below for further information about gardening:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/health-and-wellbeing
https://www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning/gardening-children-schools
https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/school-gardening-awards/school-gardening-awards-level-4
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/great-women-gardeners