Coastal Garden Developments on Grounds Day

We have been digging lots of holes to plant our new plants and we have been watering them once we put them in place. Many had worms in and some of us didn't want to go near them but others could not get enough of the tiny little critters!  Some of these plants were called blue oat grass, feather grass and more. Jobs included watering plants and planting even more plants. Cerys and I (Flo) were organising loads of different shells and even some oysters (yuck).  It was great fun really! We have put lots of wooden pallets in to form a boardwalk with feather grass around it so you can run your fingers through it as you walk by.  We've also put chicken wire along the top to stop it from getting slippery when it's raining. Today, it has been raining for some time but we've all mucked in (literally) by digging some holes for pillars to be placed - these will be like the groynes you see at the seaside.

Digging up holes to place the plants in.

We have also been designing in our art books some sculptures and art to put in the garden. The Coastal Garden has been coming on very well so far and we can't wait until it's finally done. We have been working very hard and can't wait to see it finished.
                        

   Organising the shells.

Flo, Adam 5R  

        

Our Coastal Garden

What can we do with a rather dark and miserable part of the school grounds?  One of the children started the thinking by remarking that we were a school by the coast...the idea of a coastal garden was born.
The next step was to research what could go into the garden - what actually is a coastal garden?
The children collected a host of images and sifted through magazines, holiday postcards and talked to grown ups.  A vision seemed to emerge from this research and the next step was to invite in a design expert.  Cue Vincent Mount from Portsmouth City Council.  He talked through the design issues and suggested the class visit Portsmouth Park and Ride (wow, what a trip!)  The class took his advice and armed with cameras and clip boards visited the Park and Ride and Southsea Rock Gardens to collect more information about the features and plants that typified these environments.  The Park and Ride showed the children who large sweeping grasses could give the idea of beaches and coast.

The children then sketched out ideas and came up with a class plan which is now being put into action...

So far we have shovelled up the shingle to the place we want it to be. We have conditioned the soil for the base of the garden. The first grasses have been planted around the base of the silver birch trees. The pallets need to be dug in to form a boardwalk and feathery grasses will be used to soften the edge.


Adam and Flo 5R.

Preparing the soil for planting beneath the Silver Birch.

Many wheel barrows make light work!

Wish this had an engine