During Garden Club at Golden time this term we met Mr Lee from the Wildlife trust.  We have been learning about how we can use natural products in the garden which are biodegradeable and Mr Lee brought along some Hazel poles and Willow rods harvested from managed woodland at Hardwick Wood.  We were interested to learn that Hardwick Wood was listed in the Domesday book and has supported a rich variety of wildlife through the centuries.

Mr Lee demonstrated the use of a Billhook to sharpen the Hazel rods.  We will use them to repair the fence in Maria’s meadow.  We discussed the coppicing of native trees and the use of these products for fences and structures in the garden.  We have also been learning about British wildflowers and Mr Lee advised us on foodplants for butterflies in our area such as the Holly Blue butterfly.  We are hoping to work with the Wildlife trust to continue to increase the diversity of grasses and flowers in our meadow.

Mr Lee was very impressed with the knowledge of our pupils and helped to answer some tricky questions about reducing our carbon footprint.

This term we have been practising some new willow weaving techniques, making winter flowering displays for the school grounds and maintaining Tucker’s Orchard.

Garden Club is open to all pupils in years 3 to 6 during Golden time on a Friday afternoon.