Nether Mains Primary School Wildlife Garden Project
The site
Nether Mains primary school has been unable to develop a wildlife garden in its grounds for many years because of vandalism problems at the site. Recently, they have been able to have the school grounds fenced off and so are now in a position to be able to develop them to create an outdoor teaching resource. The environment is a key component of the new curriculum for excellence within primary schools and so it is important that pupils have access to outdoor areas for learning about the environment. The wildlife garden will help the school to become an effective eco-school.
The project
The wildlife area will include raised beds, with some being suitable for use by pupils with physical disability. Vegetables will be grown in the beds using a rotational system. Paths linking the beds will also be installed, as wells as a living willow structure and planters for wildlife friendly plants.
The project work will involve construction of the raised beds and the filling of the beds with compost and soil. Footpaths will be created by digging out trenches which will be filled with aggregate and then compacted. Planters will be made out of tractor tyres and oak barrels. Living willow will be woven to create a series of arches and possibly a willow ‘igloo’.
This is a good team building project as requires the group to work as a team to bring together a number of different project elements – footpath, raised beds and willow structures. The fruits of the project will be highly valued by pupils and staff at the school.
