Collecting Seeds

 This week, we made our own paper seed packets...and collected seed from the herbaceous border.

Amongst them were geum seeds, aquilegia, bergenia and honesty seeds.  We will keep them in a drawer in Miss Swallow's room where it is cool, dark and dry.  We can then sow them next spring.

Welcome Back

We returned this week from our summer holidays.  The garden is looking pretty good thanks to our volunteers coming in to weed and water particularly in the first few weeks when the weather was dry.  Unfortunately, there is no platform ready for our Outdoor Classroom!  This is a continuing saga as negotiations are still going on to find a place for us to build it - watch this space!

The fruit trees have fruited well - apples and plums.  We tasted the apples and hope to make a crumble in the coming weeks when more ripen.

 The barrels at the front entrance to the school were not looking too good!

 Luckily the Forest School Group were able to step in and empty them ready for planting with winter pansies.

 Danielle and Dale sweep up afterwards.

We also managed to make our own hot chocolate for break - just like when we are in the Woodland.  We even managed to get the Ghillie Kettle to whistle for us this time!

 On Wednesday, Sara and Danielle had a really healthy lunch - they are into Japanese food and sushi, so had an artistically arranged packed lunch!

 It is good to see everyone back and ready to garden...

 ...we weeded the pumpkin pile and gave them a water before mulching them with the soil we took from the barrels at the front entrance.

 Simona did a particularly good job with the weeds!

 The plants are big and healthy...

...though the pumpkins are still quite small.  Hopefully they will swell in the next month or so.

 On Thursday, Simona selected a lettuce...

 and cut it with a knife

 It was lovely - green and frilly!

 We washed it in fresh water, then ate it with humous for lunch.

Our first produce this year!  We have lots of runner beans coming too but they are still quite small.

 Also this week, a parcel arrived from Morrisons - with a banner and...

 self-assemble box in the shape of a wheelbarrow!

 We didn't waste any time...

 ...and are now collecting vouchers for gardening equipment.  They are available for the next couple of months, so anyone shopping in Morrisons - please drop your vouchers into school; the box is just outside the main office.  There are many things we could get from a polytunnel or a wormery to a bird box or packs of seeds.

Finally, we had an important visitor call in to see what was going on in the garden and how things have progressed since last year.  It was Mr Stott from the RHS It's Your Neighbourhood scheme.  He took a good look around and gave Miss Swallow some advice on pruning and seed collection.  We look forward to his assessment of how we are getting on!