Education

The Education Group was formed in 2005 and offers support  to schools undertaking garden projects. This support takes the form of visits to schools, grants of money and advice leaflets covering a wide range of topics.   We have been able to help increasing numbers of schools and these encompass a wide age range and type of school.  For more information about the schools we have helped, please click on the Schools Report 2009 link.  For a list of the schools that have received grants please click on the School Awards List.

Schools interested in obtaining more information about the SGT Education Grant scheme should apply to Mrs Sheila Rabson at rabsons@btinternet.com

Plastic Bottle Greenhouse at Holway School, Taunton

This is a particularly impressive project at Holway School in Taunton, which has a thriving garden club.   The plastic bottle greenhouse involved the co-operation of pupils and parents to collect empty bottles, prepare them and finally attach them to a wooden frame. This is, of course, both innovative and cost-effective.

ASSOCIATION OF GARDEN TRUSTS
S W AREA EDUCATION CONFERENCE – HESTERCOMBE GARDENS 11 MARCH 2010

The conference was attended by Gilly Drummond, National President AGT and twenty-five delegates from seven counties. Gilly emphasised the importance of education within the work of the Garden Trusts; at national level there is great appreciation of the work that is done with schools in our counties.

Our first speaker in the morning was Jessy Harris from Somerset Wildlife Trust. Jessy outlined the work that the Trust does with schools to support the Trust’s basic premise that Education outside the classroom offers unique benefits. Their initiatives involve schools, families and communities. Her photographs showed children being involved in a variety of experiences outdoors, all of them characterised by an enjoyment of the sheer space that education outside the classroom affords. Interesting activities included a length of sisal rope for children to carry and unravel a little to accommodate their finds, paint shade cards to match with shades of leaves and plants, and wool to measure and mark out an area to study.

The Wildlife Trust is expanding its present owned and managed sites into the local landscape.  This involves the co-operation of neighbouring landowners and will have a radical impact on the countryside.

Our second speaker was Lesley Bakkers of the Enterprise and Education Alliance.  This organisation was set up in Cheshire in 2005 to enable businesses and schools to work together to promote business and enterprise education which has been part of the National Curriculum since 2003. They have successfully used garden activities to explore business opportunities; schools have included research into horticultural careers, secondary activities to fund their growing costs, designed gardens to fulfil a client’s brief, marketing their produce and making contacts with local businesses.  All of this can be applied to other business ideas and has strong links to the Citizenship curriculum.

So far thirty-four schools and more than five thousand students have participated. Since 2008 there have been budget restrictions but the enterprise input is still required and the EEA applies for grants and sponsorships to pass on to schools.

Bug2bunnies

Sharon Dobbins explained that this local company has produced kits for children to make bug boxes and wormeries.  These attract beneficial insects and afford them habitats giving some protection from energetic gardeners. Sharon has used these to work with children in schools.

Delegates were able to get creative and make their own animal habitats and many were taken home – a bonus for insects in seven counties.  This was a most enjoyable activity for all of us and a happily productive one.  Sharon’s efforts on our behalves were very much appreciated; her website, www.bug2bunnies.co.uk, is well worth visiting.

County reports and discussion

Juliet Wilmot chaired this discussion.  County reports had been circulated and our discussions centred on an exchange of ideas. These included:

  • the NHS Healthy Schools initiative in the SW can provide money (up to £3000) for schools,
  • the RHS Palette competition,
  • funding a place at a seminar for Science teachers at the Science Learning Centre,
  • Kew Science Great Plant Hunt,
  • Joseph Bentley tools (with 50% discount)
  • Southgate Publishers’ series, History in the Garden etc. and
  • Wildlife Trusts as best source of advice for schools re ponds and meadows.

Our day together was, I feel, both enjoyable and productive. It is always good to share ideas and to meet fellow GT educationalists. We were fortunate both in the weather and the venue; it is impossible not to appreciate gardens and landscapes at Hestercombe!  Thanks to all who attended!