Planting Seeds for the Future in Alford Community Garden
As part of a future vision for their school and participating in the Climate Learning and Education project as part of the Cairngorms 2030 programme, students at Alford Academy decided that they wanted to learn about sustainability through reinvigorating the school community garden. Following their hard work designing, planting, and maintaining the space, we caught up with the students and Sophia, one of the additional support staff to hear how the project was going.
The Alford community garden outside Alford Academy can be seen by everyone coming to the school and at the start of the project wasn’t exactly inspiring. Some of the pupils even describing it as a bit tired and boring! They envisioned somewhere for both wildlife and people, an inclusive space that encourages members of the community, school classes and even teachers to come, relax and spend time in nature.
Tell us about who you are and what you do?
I am a ASL (Additional Support for Learning) teacher, working mainly with pupils who have additional support needs. I’ve been here around three and a half years. We work with a range of pupils and support those who require more support in their learning environment. It’s a wide range of pupils that we work with.
What have the pupils chosen to do here at Alford?
We started out finding a project they could all get involved with. Some of the pupils really like the practical aspects such as digging up, weeding and the planting while some are very creative and like designing or painting, so it’s really been finding a project which has something for everyone.
“I have liked being creative and designing my own bunting” – Pupil
As part of the Cairngorms 2030 programme’s Climate Learning and Education project, we chose to redevelop the community garden. It’s a really nice space but it wasn’t being used to its full potential so it’s about making it a space for everyone in the community to enjoy – that’s the ethos we went with!
What sorts of activities have the pupils embraced in getting involved in the garden regeneration?
They have really embraced having a sense of responsibility and a little bit of choice. We went to them as part of the planning process and asked them what they wanted, and they came up with ideas. I think they really enjoyed being involved and getting their personalities across and being able to plan it from the early stage
I really enjoyed seeing all my hard work digging in the garden pay off” – Pupil
What plans have the pupils got for the space?
Right now, we are talking about having an arch at the entrance with different plants and a sensory garden with different herbs. The garden now has a Polycrub (A Polycrub is a hybrid greenhouse /polytunnel that can stand the highest of winds and harshest of climates!) so there are a lot of different things going on!
“I have liked seeing all the flowers come up and make the garden pretty” – Pupil
The pupils are particularly excited about the strawberry plants that are starting to grow fruit and a pair of bluetits that have made the garden bird box their home! Future plans include planting more vegetables and wildflower turfs, painting stones and panels in the garden, setting up a gardening club and encouraging more people to use the garden for relaxation and enjoyment
Recently the pupils worked together to take part in a Bioblitz, this is a one-day event to find out what other animals and plants can be found in the garden. Identifying the biodiversity living around the area can now be used to help, protect and promote nature on the school campus.
We’ve also established positive community contacts with organisations like the Men’s Shed and Murray Park Trustees who have all provided help and expertise in supporting sessions working in the garden.
The Climate Learning and Education Project, sitting within the Cairngorms 2030 programme aims to help young people build knowledge to understand the need for climate action, and to recognise the connections between biodiversity loss and its impacts on health and wellbeing. The project encourages them and their educators to build confidence to plan, collaborate and implement projects and activities that give real-world experiences around climate-related issues that matter to young people and their communities. Other schools taking part in this project are Kingussue High School, Speyside High School, Aboyne Academy, Alford Academy, and Grantown Grammar School.
Across 20 long-term projects, Cairngorms 2030 will bring about transformational change in the Cairngorms, benefitting people’s health and wellbeing, delivering on climate change and enhancing nature across the National Park. The programme is on a larger scale than anything previously attempted in the UK and aims to inspire rural and urban communities throughout Scotland and beyond to take action and make a difference.
The Cairngorms 2030 programme is made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players
Any questions about the project please contact Tania Alloid, Cairngorms 2030 Learning Officer, Planning and Rural Development: [email protected]