@MiniHorts. Potatoes - from seed to plate.

A busy afternoon at Gardening Club last week, where the Minihorts showed in one hour why we grow the things we eat!  One group spent half an hour or so on a late sowing of maincrop potatoes (Desiree), which we expect to harvest in the autumn; while another group were busy harvesting some of the early potatoes (Rocket) that we sowed in March ...

... but that isn't all - some of these potatoes will go into veg boxes, but some were put to a more immediate and tasty use - they were sliced very thinly to make crisps, which were delicious and far better for us than the crisps that come in a packet.  We now know the whole life-cycle of these potatoes from seed to plate, and they never once left the school grounds.

That's one of the reasons why we do it - well done to the Minihorts!

David Harrison
Volunteer

Elderflower 'Pop' Update

Following the recent foraging inspired by the likes of Riverford Organic, nature has taken a path of its own...

We will sadly not be allowing the Elderflower Cordial to be sampled by Year R to get an overall vote on its taste. The test has gone over to adults as the cordial has begun to fizz and ferment, producing alcohol.  How this could happen after following a reliable recipe is mysterious to the enthusiastic first time producers!

The conversation in staffroom has been lively and requests for further production suggests it tastes good. If we are fortunate to forage more flowers then speed is of the essence to ensure Year R can sample the fruits of their labour.

Elderflower 'cordial' !

Elderflower Foraging Year R

Picking the elderflowers

The joys of foraging are practised by enthusiastic adults and the riches appreciated. How many children are allowed, encouraged or know how to forage?

With the right knowledge passed on, future generations will be able to enjoy seasonal delights from our hedgerows and orchards.

Year R have experienced how fun it can be to harvest elderflowers from our orchard this week connecting with where flavours come from. Many were surprised to learn how a flower could flavour food or drinks. While harvesting the children noted the pungent smell and visiting pollinators in the beautiful setting of our orchard.

Taking armfuls of the white flowers into the kitchen we decided to make our own elderflower cordial. After washing, slices of lemon were added into a large pan, bags of sugar were measured and boiling water added to dissolve. This was the most magical part of the experience for the children, a solid and liquid combining. The liquid was added to the flowers and lemon and left for the boring part to steep over the weekend. Next week this will be filtered and the exciting tasting will take part with the whole of the year group, votes on taste will take place deciding if elderflower flavouring is a hit or miss!

Elderflowers and lemons

Foragers - job done!

Yellow Rattle

Yellow rattle

Over the past two summers, we have sprinkled yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor) seeds in our wild meadow areas.  This is a very handy plant as it is semi-parasitic and feeds off grass.  Grass is a problem because it takes most of the nutrients from the soil.  If we can establish yellow rattle then we can control the grass and allow other wild flower species to grow.  This summer, we have a fine show of yellow rattle growing throughout our orchard.

We have also mixed in a collection of wild flower seeds suited to our soil and location and eagerly wait to see what is appearing each year.  One plant that seems to have done well is corncockle (Agrostemma githago) - a rare plant in the wild.  It used to grow on the edges of fields but over the years herbicides and changes in agricultural practice have gradually killed it off.  It is a stunning plant and it is great to see it colonising our meadow. 
Yellow rattle is so called because the seed pods of this plant literally rattle when they are ready for distribution.

Corncockle in sunlight

This corncockle is home for a cucumber spider

Help the hedgehogs

The hedgehog population of the UK is down 97% for many reasons and so they need help.  At Wicor we provide perfect hedgehog hibernation and foraging sites, but not all gardens are like this.  There are some simple ways to help hedgehogs:

http://www.discoverwildlife.com/british-wildlife/how-you-can-help-hedgehogs

If nothing else cut a CD disc size whole in the bottom of your fence so that hedgehogs can get from garden to garden.  Remember do not feed them milk or bread: water and meaty cat food is much better.  More information can be found at:
http://thehedgehog.co.uk/feeding-hedgehogs/      or
http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/pages/diet.html

Mrs Bryant recently found this stunned and injured hedgehog in Portchester.  She rang a local Wildlife Expert who came and rescued the poor little thing.  Recent updates though are that the hog is doing well and we hope to release it into Wicor grounds where it will find lots of eat and drink and perfect hedgehog shelters.




Did you know that a baby hedgehog is called a hoglet?
Did you also know that a group of hedgehogs is called an array?

Back in business

My work on the stumpery stopped for a while because of the SATS tests and lots of work beforehand, but I have now started to plant some of my plants into the ground and inside the log holes.

Blue bells are starting to grow on the path and I need to start cutting back the thorn bushes. The plants that I`m growing are woodland plants for my woodland area.   I`m hoping to get some more stumps and some more logs soon.  I don`t need to get any more wood chip though because I got some more from the man who comes and coppices the trees in the grounds.

Lately I`ve taken some photos of the stumpery and put them in my book and I`m watering the plants. They are growing very well but I don`t need to water them today because it is raining and the stumpery is going well.

by Harvey 6N

Stop, look and listen.

I happened to find myself at school today - nothing unusual about that I hear you say until you realise that it was a Sunday.  I was there returning tables, boards and plants after the Fareham Gardeners' Market yesterday and while I was ferrying said items from my car to various places I found myself walking past the pond area.  I couldn't resist stopping and looking as it has always been one of my most favourite areas of the school - to me it has a magical quality.  And this morning it didn't disappoint.

I decided to let myself into the area, although I must admit I felt like a naughty school girl sneaking in without permission, and wondered slowly around.  It had the sense that something amazing was about to happen although it was silent apart from the birds singing in the nearby trees.  Year 1 had been busy the previous week planting out the new dry stone wall, and the pond was clearer of weed than I have seen for a while.  The new nocturnal bed, designed to continue to encourage bats into our grounds, is taking shape as the After School Club had been in there weeding and digging on Friday.  I loitered in there for a while, just enjoying the different areas which are usually busy with children, but which were now still, resting, waiting.

A strange sense of guilt made me leave, as if I had trespassed upon the wildlife's territory, and I made my way round to the front of the school ready to go home.  But by now I was beginning to enjoy the solitary atmosphere so I took the opportunity to walk past the wildlife garden at the front, which is about to be filled with late Spring colour, as the Sweet Williams are ready to burst into a myriad of colours and release their bee loving scent.  And as I walked through the bed it struck me how beautiful our school is and how lucky our children are.  Of course I already know this and am constantly reminding people of the fact, but I rarely stop and look myself, as I always seem to be rushing from one place to the next.

So maybe the next time you are walking your child to school, just take a minute to stop, look,  wonder and sense just like I did, the shapes, colours and sounds of Wicor Primary.  It is such a privilege to be a small part of it.

Mrs Nash