Creation of an environmental outdoor learning area

Creation of an Environmental Learning Space: Phase two

This slide show documents the progress and construction and was developed by the science department 2011 following on from work carried out the previous year with students in the Transition Group

What we have added to the already existing features • Tiered seating area for a whole class • Split level pond with solar powered water pump • a series of beds for growing herbs and vegetables • Insect home made from reclaimed pallets and other scrap • Bird village a series of nesting boxes with designs engraved on.

•Fruit bushes and trees •Wild flower walk •Signage indicating all features With the inclusion of a pond we hoped to create a small eco system including plants, insects and birds. Vegetable beds and herbs for understanding domestic food production. With the addition of a wild flower trail we hoped to attract butterflies.

This would also create a learning resource for the wider school.

general site clearance and preparations

This included removal of small trees and a lot of undergrowth, we used the leaves for composting. When the site was cleared we were able to plan the placement for our features

The outdoor learning area

A fan shape of ten benches in total to seat a whole class, placed on the sloping bank

Seating construction and specifications

the benches are built by the students using hand held power tools and 10lb hammer

Construction of the insect home

We have reclaimed several pallets for a giant insect home ‘hotel’. This has bundles of sticks, tiles, bricks and even some kind of sculptural constructions in there!

Working drawings showing the construction for the pond

The pond is made from logs cut in half and will also have a planting scheme incorporated

Construction of the pond

We have ambitious plans being realised for the construction of a split level pond. A solar powered water pump will continually re-fill the top pond allowing constant movement of the water. Water supply has become an important issue and the pond will be finished later.

A research trip to Shorne CountryPark

We looked at what type of individual features were included within the park, how they were presented for public use and how they were signposted

vegatable beds and fruit trees

Mr Taylor‘s enthusiasm for the garden is such that he runs an after school garden club and it is this club that has really saved these plants from the effects of the very dry spring

Bird Village and nesting box making

We want to encourage birds and a number of bird boxes have been made with routed designs on for decoration

Signage was constructed and lettering routed into wood labelling the features

Wild Flower Walk and Trails

Wild flowers are planted along trails spreading into the remote parts of the site

What’s to come ?

•We are organising a celebration open day on the 15 July 2011 •Invitations to all other departments of the school community •Encouragement to use the space more as an outdoor learning area, particularly for creative writing, all forms of art, natural history studies It is hoped the garden club will expand and food growing encouraged and valuable knowledge shared. The art department could contribute to the trails by creating outdoor sculptures inspired by the natural world.

Special thanks in order for Mrs Gordon and Mr Taylor for valuable input towards this project.