|
| | Here we provide some examples of our major School Projects where we
work with staff, children and parents to create an inspiring and fun place to
learn.
| The Head Mrs Rachel Chahal at The Oval Primary
School contacted NLK Garden Services to see if we could help build a
bottle greenhouse with their year 6 children. This project was linked to
them working towards the Food for Life Partnership
scheme (which they have now been given a Gold Award). The Head had been given our name through our link with the Food
for Life partnership and had seen our website showing the bottle
greenhouse we made at Clifton Primary School. The whole school had been told to gather 1500 2l bottles over the next
few months and visit recycling areas to collect any remaining bottles
required for their 8 x 6 bottle greenhouse.
NLK Garden Services ordered and delivered all the wood, screws, canes,
clips and other fixings needed for the job in hand. The Staff and Parents
had all been asked to bring in some power tools, screwdrivers, saws
and a few hand tools to help the process run smoothly. The idea was to work with small groups
of children, staff and parents throughout the two days to construct the
bottle greenhouse. During each session NLK went through the objectives and
coordinated working in teams, including risk assessment and health and safety.
After day one (top 3 pics) many bottles had been cut, placed and
threaded onto canes ready to be attached to the greenhouse frame. Once the
wooden frames were together the rows of bottles were screwed and clipped
onto the frame to complete the side panels. The main greenhouse frame posts
were set into the
correct positions and the frame screwed on. Day two (bottom 3 pics)
involved the construction of the roof and door frames, and some internal
bracing to stabilize the structure. The team worked really well and the bottle
greenhouse was completed by home time. We were very lucky to have two really hot,
dry days to work in, which made the plastic bottles easier to cut and manage. This was a
rewarding project which brought all the year 6 children, staff and parents
together as a team and to get the job completed on time. Happy growing for
the future!
|
Back to Top
| Lutterworth Nursery were expanding to bigger
premises and called NLK Garden Services to help design and build a new
secure garden for the children to play in. The area was part of an old car park, so
we had a blank canvas to work from. After several visits and consultations a design and date was agreed and
work could begin. The
owner had already arranged to rip the tarmac up. The site was measured, marked and levels put in
place; it became apparent the garden would need to be raised
to get the required depth of soil for growing. The first item to be built
was a decking area for the play house and seating, then the fort. The
raised fort is the centerpiece of the garden providing perspective for its
surroundings; the path doubles-up as a roadway for the children's cars and
bikes. Turf was used in stead of the more costly rubber softplay matting.
New railway sleepers formed raised beds around the perimeter so that the children had some growing areas for
fruit, vegetables and wild flowers. A large sand pit was incorporated into
the features of the garden.
The Air conditioning unit was trellised off for safety and a bespoke
seating area constructed to provide a reading spot. Bark chippings were
placed around this area due to it being a shady site and ideal spot to put
the play equipment. 20mm gravel was placed around the sandpit area to help
with drainage. Around the perimeter we installed sleepers so we could
raise the area up and make the site more level and growing friendly. Approximately 30 tonnes of
material was required plus a lorry load of wood to complete this garden.
|
Back to Top
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| NLK Garden Services was asked to visit their
school and meet the Headmaster Mr Hammond and Mrs Furlong Smith to
discuss potential ideas for the school garden. On arriving, I was amazed
at the size of ground available to work with and the wonderful opportunity
to create something special. The school was very lucky to have been given a National
Lottery grant to go towards the work. After several workshops with staff and children,
listening to the many ideas being suggested, it was time to sit
down with the older year groups and decide on what they really wanted
prior to finalising the design and build plans.
After the plan was put together, it was time to meet everyone at a parent evening and see whether they agreed to the plans
and also what help and materials they could offer towards the garden project.
We started construction with a staff, parent and children
workshop weekend. It was lovely to see so many willing helpers all armed
with barrows, spades, power tools etc. We were able to build all the Treasure
Chests (raised beds for each class to grow fruit, veg or edible
flowers for the Food for Life Partnership) and
most of the Treasure Island
built. NLK completed the decking area the following week. The next job was to build some seats for the
Sensory Garden.
|
 |
.JPG) |
 |
| We were so grateful to Gaby (a parent at the
school) who arranged for Stonemarket to sponsor the project
after seeing the garden plans. They were very generous and provided most of the
hard landscaping materials required to get the mini-projects
underway. We were amazed how quickly the materials were delivered, and
many thanks to Jo for giving her time and expertise offloading materials
in the right places! Over
the next few workshop weekends we made a concrete Timber Walk to the
Bird Hide and Wildlife Feeding Station, lifted the
grass around the Treasure Island, fixed tyres into the ground for the Sea
Monsters, and then laid landscape matting and spread many tonnes of gravel,
slate and Derbyshire chippings. We then made a start concreting in
paddle stones to mark the sensory areas. With the help of many willing
parents over the following weeks this task was completed along with the bird hide and
the feeding station, which was funded by the Food for Life
Partnership Scheme.
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Next came the Tardis, just in time for Doctor
Who to save us from an invasion of Daleks during the Summer Fair,
phew! Then came the biggest project of all the Sinking Galleon Ship
classroom to go where the ground was bare and very muddy! Ooh, lots of fun
and excitement all around from the children and many questions like
"What you doing" (an all time favourite), and "when
is it going to be finished" ? At the end we had most of Key Stage 1
in the ship all jumping up and down and putting it to it's ultimate test,
with a lot of excitement and roars the ship survived, amazing! |
   
|
 |
.jpg) |
 |
| A few of the other projects included the
Lunar Space area, the Fossil Forest Amphitheatre, bird hide and wildlife feeding
station, Fort, Shelter, Bug Home and Willow Dens in the making. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The final workshop weekend takes
place on 5th-6th Feb 2012. With many
last wish lists including Totem Poles and a Musical Area we are going to
have to
appoint leaders to help coordinate the various jobs ahead. Watch this
space to find out how we got on! This final stage is still awaiting
due to poor weather and change of Headship at the school. The new
Headmistress Mrs Susan Shannon has been in contact and hopes to get the
project underway sometime soon! |
 |
|
 |
| Back to Top |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| The school garden was put together after a business
week, where two classes were asked to work together and draw up some ideas
of how they wanted the garden to look. We went in at the beginning of the
week and helped break the subject down into manageable sections so as not to
overwhelm the children. A few days later we went in with a selection of
plants to help bring some ideas to life as well as discussing their
thoughts so far. At the end of the week, the classes were asked to give a
presentation so the whole school could review the ideas and come up with
any more. |
 |
 |
 |
| Once we had all agreed on the main features to
be included, work could begin. First we started with the pond area, as the
children all thought this needed to be the basis of the garden. On
designing the area to scale, we thought it would be beneficial to make the
seating area a covered one. That way it could be used in all weathers as
an outdoor classroom. Due to the garden being quite confined, the seating
was made into special storage cupboards, to contain all the nets, tanks
and books needed for ponds. On one side of the decked area, we installed a
bridge ('Who's walking over my bridge' and many other games are played)
and on the other side we made a ramp to make all areas accessible to those
in wheelchairs or with walking aids. Once leaving the decking area, you
walk onto a yellow brick path, which then leads you round to the
castle. The children have great role play converting it into fairy land,
the dragons kingdom or the soldiers fort. Be careful of the Dragon lurking
in the garden - kindly made and donated by one of the parents at the
school - have you spotted him yet? |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| We used as many recycled items as possible,
so everybody got involved in donating items, whether it was slabs, bricks,
stones, plants or decorations and best of all the swing seat. The swing
seat was a huge success, and makes a lovely place to relax whilst parents
and young children enjoy the garden. The children put good use to the many
pallets left over, to make there own bug hotel. Wow what lucky insects.
The children quickly filled the raised bed with vegetables - and most
produce was used in their cooking lessons during the autumn term. We also
constructed a touchy feely box and xylophone out of the remnants from the
decking area to go near the herb area to create a sensory garden. The
garden was finally finished off with bird boxes, animal homes, water
butts, mirrors,
garden ornaments and posters to turn the whole area into a sustainable and
lovely
relaxed learning zone.
Feedback from the Headmaster Mr Briggs..."Thank you so
much for your hard work and dedication and all the help you have given the
school. You have helped produce an innovative and wonderful garden which
enables the school community to access a place of tranquility,
inspiration, learning and wildlife. The secret garden will provide our
community and its wildlife with many years of enjoyment as we watch it
grow and develop."
Feedback from The Governors ..." Mrs Moore took some
derelict school land and worked with the children and staff to create a
secret garden with reflectory, sensory, learning and growing themed areas.
The garden can now be used by the children for 1:1 tuition, small teacher
groups and whole class lessons, providing a fantastic addition and
resource to our outdoor learning space. We are most grateful to Mrs Moore
and her team at NLK Garden Services for their creative design, leadership
and ongoing teaching support." Mrs Bower, Chair of Governors. |
Food for Life Partnership Workshop Weekend - 23rd & 24th January 2010
Here are some photos of the event,
including the construction of planters around the school and a greenhouse
made out of recycled plastic bottles. Thanks to all the parents and staff
who gave freely of their time and expertise to make this event a great
success. |
|
The workshop - bottling plant! |
Garden Organic - planting
demonstration |
School
frontage before
|
|
Work in
progress |
The new look and planters |
Planters for
all classes and staff! |
|
Panels being fit with recycled
bottle strips |
Malcolm
Smith from Garden Organic and Natasha Moore - NLK Garden Services |
Greenhouse frame assembly |
|
Roof frame and gables |
Roof and panels coming together |
The assembled structure - end
view |
|
Side view |
The finished
greenhouse |
And some sturdy benches to finish off |
|
Feedback from The Community Governor ..."This event was
our first workshop at the school and I was anxious how it would turn out. I knew I had a great
team with Mr. Briggs and Mrs. Moore together with several other
governors and parents who are always there to help out where necessary.
This was also a chance to open the school doors to the wider community
and welcome everyone in to see what great work we do
for the benefit of the children and the school. To my delight the hall was set up with a variety of activities
for the
children while all the parents and grandparents poured through
the door with tools and a willingness to help. There was an
atmosphere of excitement of how the "Fantastic Plastic Bottle
Greenhouse" would actually go together and soon the hall became a
"bottling plant" with everyone joining in. Mrs. Moore directed several parents to start on the raised beds within the
school grounds. They soon took shape as more people turned
up to lend a hand with anything needed. Sunday was another day and after such a good start it was soon clear
that we were to finish all that was set out to be done. The
Greenhouse was completed and looked so impressive it stands proud
of place on the playground for everyone to see. The children, Mrs.
Moore and I will enjoy many hours pottering about getting all things ready
for the spring season. All the raised beds were completed including bonus ones for staff and
playgroup and these will now allow everyone access to grow and understand
the process of "food for life". Without such a dedicated team lead by Mrs. Moore none of this would
have been
possible. She is such an asset and always there with a smile when
needed which is just what our school needs to develop. Many thanks for such a brilliant weekend.
Mrs. Amanda Nixon, Community
Governor.
Further information is available via the Food
for Life Partnership website.
|
|
Back to Top
|
