Secret Garden at Trinity Fields
- in partnership with Finton House School
An exciting new project funded by Finton House School to develop a totally derelict area inside Trinity Fields. Working with school staff and parents over several weekends, we created a magical space to showcase different plants - flowers, herbs and strawberries and even aquatic plants in their own rock pool! We have already run outdoor learning classes for Finton House children in the garden and Trinity Fields plans to make the space available for other local schools in the future.
Broadwater School - Woody Corner
With Wandsworth's support we have taken a shady unused corner of Broadwater Primary School and converted it into an outdoor learning zone for children. With the enthusiastic support of staff and parent volunteers we have built planters and sandpits and are growing all kinds of vegetables and flowers. We are using the Woody Corner to run a series of classes for all age groups and abilities - with tailored sessions for SEND children and whole year group activities.
Together on Climate Change Festival
- Smallwood Primary School
As part of Wandsworth's Together on Climate Change Festival held to mark COP26, we ran voluntary "Soil Quality" sessions at Smallwood Primary School. We explained to children the environmental threats to soil - global warming, erosion, monoculture, over-farming, loss of biodiversity and deforestation - and ran demonstrations to teach them about different types of soils and how to handle them. The day ended with enthusiastic and engaged discussion of all of the topics.
Christmas wreath workshop at Fircroft
At a festive evening run with the Fircroft PTA, we led a workshop teaching Fircroft parents and the wider community how to make Christmas wreathes. Participants learnt to mount a seasonal mix of foliage (thuja, pine, holy, ivy and mistletoe) and decorations (spray-painted pine cones, ribbons, baubles and dried fruit) on wire frames to create some beautiful wreathes. Perfect Christmas presents at a fraction of shop costs and a lot of fun to do!!
Rutherford House - soup workshop
An outdoor session on a freezing late November Saturday - what could be better than teaching children and their parents how to make hot soup?! Four "teams" tried their hands at creating leek and potato, mushroom, lentil and ribolita soups. Using fresh ingredients prepared on the day and cooked in special soup makers, all the soups were a terrific success. Delicious.....
Fircroft weekly gardening classes
The continuation of a project started in 2020/2021 funded by Wandsworth. Delayed by Covid restrictions, we resumed weekly gardening sessions both for whole classes and individual children. Activities included planting, building challenges, puzzles and soup-making. Particular focus was given to children who had suffered most from lockdown and the inability to access either school or public open spaces. Greatly enjoyed by all with an impressive level of engagement - especially in leaf-sweeping!!
Floreat Wandsworth - after-school Eco GardenClubs
Following a long interruption due to lockdown restrictions, think outside has now resumed its after-school Eco Gardening Clubs for years 4 and 5 at Floreat. Outdoors, we are covering all aspects of gardening appropriate for the time of year including watering, mulching and planting. We have even put up tents to protect us from the weather! Indoors, the children have decorated pots and planted hyacinths to take home. The children's interest in activities is inspiring.
think outside is also Floreat's gardener, responsible for year-round maintenance.