Tuesday 24 March 2020

School Closed to Prevent the spread of COVID-19


Sadly but very necessarily, the school has closed to try and slow the spread of the corona-virus.  This means that the garden also is closed until further notice.  Once we realised the increasing likelihood of a closure, we endeavoured to cover as many exposed beds as possible to prevent weeds taking over.  
S3 pupils rushed to plant some potatoes in order to have crops on our return.
Miss Swallow took the rest (lots!) home to plant - again so we can enjoy crops on our return.
Mrs Patterson helped to plant out lovely primroses and crocuses so they would not die.  On Thursday lunchtime Kiera put the "End Polio" crocus pots into the plant theatres on the shed so they also can catch any rain.
Patrick helped move potted plants out of the polytunnel.  They will have a shock with the sudden change in temperature but hopefully survive out there!
More beds to cover...
...and Lewis  wanted to leave the shed clean and tidy 🙂
A "Growing Kit" was quickly prepared for pupils to take home.  It contained some First Early "Rocket" potatoes, some seeds, photo sheets to complete and crop instruction sheets.  I look forward to seeing your plants as spring unfolds folks!
In technology lessons, the S3 pupils really wanted to get their mug trees finished...
...so we popped them in the bag too!
Meanwhile in other news, before the exceptional circumstances took hold, S5 pupils started digging out the last bit of path - to connect the main circle to the central square where the gazebo will stand.
Inevitably this meant the stone pile grew bigger!!
S3 pupils potted up colourful pansies donated for the Memorial Garden to grow them on until we are ready to plant them out.  
Lucky we did as they should be okay throughout the summer in the bigger pots.
Some good news as spring gets into full swing: the Swift Box on the school building is being used - not by swifts but two sparrows are busy building a nest in there!  All part of nature's web, so we are happy that it has been adopted for this year!
Despite being closed, please check the blog now and then as I shall be posting updates on pupil activities involving the garden albeit remotely and let you know how the school crops are coming on.  In the meantime, please stay safe, stick to the government guidelines and be kind to others who may need some support from a distance during this difficult time.  We wish you all well.

Monday 16 March 2020

Colourful crocuses herald the start of spring and an "End to Polio"

Last Friday, the Interact group came out to the garden to see the Rotary End Polio Crocus flowers in bloom.
They timed it just perfectly as they are looking great.
It was a lovely day, so the group decided to stay.
They set to work sweeping...
...watering...
...and weeding!  Thank you all for your efforts - you made a big difference in a short time 🙂
In other news, we had a visitor -  Barbara Last - to see the whole garden project and talk about possible funding opportunities from the Co-op.
Miss Swallow also attended the Transition Black Isle Potato Day to help out with the event.
Many varieties of seed potato were available to the public...
...and several boxes were donated to school at the end so a huge thank you to them as well!  The tubers are available at 15p each - email at susan.swallow@aberdeenshire.gov.uk if interested to buy and collect from school.  The remainder will be planted in the garden of course.
Meanwhile crops continue to mature in the polytunnel...
...we are cropping winter salad leaves for staff...
...and pupils have been potting up plants for the Memorial Garden area.