http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourenvironment/sustainabledevelopment/eco-schools/sharingpractice/School%20Grounds.htm Follow this link to the Highland Council site for Sustainable Education. Some more photos there!
Press Release of 31st May 2011
Crown Primary School Community Garden comes to Fruition
The Crown Primary School Community Garden will be opened at the Crown Primary Summer Fête on Saturday 4th June at 12.15. Pupils Nikita and Jack, winners of a school speech writing competition will have the honour of declaring the garden open at the ribbon cutting event.
Over a year in the planning and six weeks in the making, generous grants of £10,000 from Awards for All and match funding from Green Inverness, saw the architect designed garden come to life. Changing a barren, tarmacked area of the school playground into an exciting, interactive green space.
The Community Garden has been a collaborative effort by the school and parent volunteers with huge support from the school community and the wider community beyond. Initial funding from Awards from All was secured by teacher Rachel Sutherland and parent Gilly Kirkwood in 2010 and after recruiting parent and architect, Julie Macrae to the project, it was apparent that additional funding would provide a sustainable garden that would stand the test of time, not to mention the rigours of playtime. To this end, further funding was sought from Green Inverness and this was granted at the end of 2010 allowing construction by Brandons to begin in April 2011.
The garden consists of four generous sized raised beds. One planted with raspberries, one ornamental, one with edibles such as lettuces and strawberries and the final one with common and more unusual herbs. A further bed under the pergola is home to some more architectural plants and climbers. There is also a grass circle with seating and a magical storytellers chair for outdoor teaching, musical instruments, including chimes and a large wooden xylophone. A greenhouse sits in one corner and is accessible by the children so they can learn about growing plants from seeds. A curve of beech hedging forms a sinuous boundary and there are three fruit trees.
Most of the planting was done on a sunny May day by a squad of parent, grandparent, child, teacher and community volunteers. Cost of plants was heavily subsidised by Greens Nursery in Nairn and Scotbark donated a large quantity of tools as well as topsoil and turf. The fruit trees were donated by parents of the school and many other businesses and individuals in Inverness helped out.
All the materials used have been selected for their sustainability and eco-friendly credentials. Rainwater is harvested to nurture the plants and children will put up bird boxes, bird feeding stations and insect hotels. All of which will count towards the Green Flag award for the school. The garden is also fully accessible by wheelchair, so that no-one is excluded from the space.
Mrs. Cowie, headteacher of Crown Primary, likes to wander around the garden daily and said “So many people have been involved in this project – parents, pupils, staff and the wider community. It is great to see everyone coming together – a real community effort that has resulted in a wonderful garden which will be an asset for many many years to come.”
Provost and local councillor Jimmy Grey said “ The garden is a great asset for the school and the community which will assist children in learning and development so that they can more fully appreciate the wonders of nature”
The garden is a haven for children at playtime but will also be used as an outdoor classroom and for more specific lessons in e.g. eco awareness, music and meteorology. Parents are also welcome to potter about in the garden, sample herbs or get more involved. At times the wider community will also be invited into this space, such as on Saturday at the Crown Primary School Fête. The fête runs from 12 until 4 on Saturday 4th June and will see the official opening of the garden at 12.15. There will be many garden themed stalls and entertainments, including a hat parade. All are welcome.
Press Release of 31st May 2011
Crown Primary School Community Garden comes to Fruition
The Crown Primary School Community Garden will be opened at the Crown Primary Summer Fête on Saturday 4th June at 12.15. Pupils Nikita and Jack, winners of a school speech writing competition will have the honour of declaring the garden open at the ribbon cutting event.
Over a year in the planning and six weeks in the making, generous grants of £10,000 from Awards for All and match funding from Green Inverness, saw the architect designed garden come to life. Changing a barren, tarmacked area of the school playground into an exciting, interactive green space.
The Community Garden has been a collaborative effort by the school and parent volunteers with huge support from the school community and the wider community beyond. Initial funding from Awards from All was secured by teacher Rachel Sutherland and parent Gilly Kirkwood in 2010 and after recruiting parent and architect, Julie Macrae to the project, it was apparent that additional funding would provide a sustainable garden that would stand the test of time, not to mention the rigours of playtime. To this end, further funding was sought from Green Inverness and this was granted at the end of 2010 allowing construction by Brandons to begin in April 2011.
The garden consists of four generous sized raised beds. One planted with raspberries, one ornamental, one with edibles such as lettuces and strawberries and the final one with common and more unusual herbs. A further bed under the pergola is home to some more architectural plants and climbers. There is also a grass circle with seating and a magical storytellers chair for outdoor teaching, musical instruments, including chimes and a large wooden xylophone. A greenhouse sits in one corner and is accessible by the children so they can learn about growing plants from seeds. A curve of beech hedging forms a sinuous boundary and there are three fruit trees.
Most of the planting was done on a sunny May day by a squad of parent, grandparent, child, teacher and community volunteers. Cost of plants was heavily subsidised by Greens Nursery in Nairn and Scotbark donated a large quantity of tools as well as topsoil and turf. The fruit trees were donated by parents of the school and many other businesses and individuals in Inverness helped out.
All the materials used have been selected for their sustainability and eco-friendly credentials. Rainwater is harvested to nurture the plants and children will put up bird boxes, bird feeding stations and insect hotels. All of which will count towards the Green Flag award for the school. The garden is also fully accessible by wheelchair, so that no-one is excluded from the space.
Mrs. Cowie, headteacher of Crown Primary, likes to wander around the garden daily and said “So many people have been involved in this project – parents, pupils, staff and the wider community. It is great to see everyone coming together – a real community effort that has resulted in a wonderful garden which will be an asset for many many years to come.”
Provost and local councillor Jimmy Grey said “ The garden is a great asset for the school and the community which will assist children in learning and development so that they can more fully appreciate the wonders of nature”
The garden is a haven for children at playtime but will also be used as an outdoor classroom and for more specific lessons in e.g. eco awareness, music and meteorology. Parents are also welcome to potter about in the garden, sample herbs or get more involved. At times the wider community will also be invited into this space, such as on Saturday at the Crown Primary School Fête. The fête runs from 12 until 4 on Saturday 4th June and will see the official opening of the garden at 12.15. There will be many garden themed stalls and entertainments, including a hat parade. All are welcome.