Proud Moments

We have had two particularly proud moments recently...

On Friday 22nd June, Ross Watson was awarded the Cameron Cup at our school prize giving ceremony.  This is an environmental award.  Miss Swallow says:

I have awarded Ross Watson the Environment Award because he has regularly "gone the extra mile" in the garden.  He is responsible and helpful to others during class, helps at lunchtimes and has also come outwith school time to water and look after plants.  Not only this, but he has taken on the difficult task of maintaining our RIDAN hot composter several times a week during his own time too. He is therefore showing through his positive actions, a real commitment and dedication to creating a better environment.  "A very deserving candidate for such an award."

So well done Ross and keep up the good work!

Our second proud moment was to be able to supply pots and a trough of pansies for the school production of the Railway Children.  They were part of the set for the railway station in Yorkshire and as such came on and off stage a few times during the evening!We dead-headed the flowers and watered them each day to keep them looking their best as they were taken into the theatre each night.

A third proud moment was to be able to give a tour to local councillor Anouk Kloppert who was intrigued by Ross's award so wanted to meet and speak to him.  Ross of course brought her out to the garden and the S4 class (including Ryan above) gave her a tour.  

She was very impressed with all the hard work that has gone into making the garden to date plus the varied learning opportunities and activities that we have held in the garden.  She went home happily with an assortment of vegetables!

WAP Wider Achievement Program - a busy three days

Last week was "WAP week".  Pupils' normal timetables were suspended and there were many varied trips and activities going on from Wednesday to Friday.

We had a great team in the garden and the weather could not have been better for us.  Here is a brief summary of our achievements:

DAY 1


Potting on pansies

Planting out chard...

...and climbing beans.

Kai and Adam worked independently to make a compost container...

...to help tidy up the dalek bin area.

Angela and Mrs Dilworth weeded behind the seat and re-potted the bamboos as they were getting very dry and pot bound.  They also did a fabulous job of watering and mulching the borders inside the fruit cage.

Darren also helped plant peas to grow up the frame.

DAY 2

Kai and Adam finished tidying the compost area then enjoyed learning how to use the mower.


Angela worked with Mrs Anderson to plant out strawberries and runner beans, then joined Grant from Ellon Primary emptying spent bulbs from pots to make more room on the storage shelves.

At lunchtime, Ross brought Mrs Murdoch from the library to tour the garden.  She is looking forward to holding lunchtime reading sessions in the library in future :)

Darren helped Miss Swallow treat the new shed extension...

...to help preserve it...

...whilst the other two lads were both strimming and mowing.

Newly planted and watered strawberry plants

In the afternoon, the BBQ needed assembling ready for day 3.

This turned out to be quite a challenge!

DAY 3


Kai tidies up around the shed with the strimmer

Darren potted up small seedlings from a seed tray.

We put up a second gazebo...

...and set up an outdoor kitchen.

Meanwhile, the art pupils brought out their wooden character that has been elaborately painted.  It will be mounted on a post like an artisan scarecrow - watch this space!

We lit the BBQ...

...and started cooking :)

We had a lovely lunch with lots of extra visitors - some of whom enjoyed partaking in the hot melted chocolate bananas!!

All in all it was a busy productive three days.  Everyone worked really hard despite the extreme heat at times!  The garden progressed and is looking substantially better as a result of all your hard work folks, so well done and THANK YOU!

Ellon Rotary donate £400 to help develop the garden

On Wednesday evening, Miss Swallow attended the Ellon Rotary meeting where they were presenting their community awards.  They gave our garden project £400.  This will help us to landscape the area around the new poly-tunnel to make it more accessible.  Thank you to all Rotary members for your support.

Fifteen different groups were awarded funds for many varied projects.  There were two others from Ellon Academy - Mrs Murdoch collected £400 to help with hosting authors to the library and Mrs Waugh £400 for a third year Personal & Social Education project.

Meanwhile the polytunnels doors were hung on rails this week...

...and covered with polythene.

All the excess polythene has now been trimmed from the structure...

...so it is complete.

Euan helped to build two more raised beds.

These will provide more planting space for our vegetables :)

The S1 class cropped rhubarb to make into a crumble on Friday

They also planted potatoes into bags...

...several varieties: Rooster, Orla, Bambino and Foremost

The EAGer Bunch potted on pansies.  They are very colourful just now and have out-grown the small pots.
Another productive week - well done to everyone and thank you for all your good effort.

Additions to our gardening family and the new poly-tunnel takes shape!

This week we had to cordon off two areas of the garden as eggs have hatched in two nests! 

We have a family of robins and a family of thrushes being raised in the centre of our garden :)


A lot of progress has also been made with the poly-tunnel classroom.  Wooden batons were attached all round the bottom...

...and "hotspot tape" was put over each pole.

This prevents the metal warming up and wearing holes in the polythene.

Talking of polythene, we had a very large roll to cope with!

A bit difficult in the breeze, but the sun was shining so we really wanted to get on with it.

We attached one side...

...then recruited some help to get the whole thing taught before nailing batons on the other side.

Thanks to Rhian and Jamie who came to our rescue for an hour to help! :)

The trick for getting the polythene "drum tight" is to raise the base rails before attaching it then loosen them off and stand on them to lower them which stretches the covert tight before re-tightening the bolts.

Ta-da!  Next we need to make the doors!

Meanwhile on Monday the S3 class worked with the S1 class outside the garden so as not to disturb the birds. 

They had a production line going - newspaper went in one end and got turned into mini pots.

These were then filled with soil and planted up with seedlings from our seed trays.

We have lots more seedlings to prick out waiting in the polytunnels.

Also this week, the art department made the most of the sun and enjoyed their lunch in the fresh air.

There were two P7 "transition" lessons in the garden this week.

Both groups enjoyed sowing seeds for us.

We had a delivery of timber for building more raised beds...

...and more topsoil from the farmer to fill them with - thanks David!

The S1 class cleaned lots of plant labels on Wednesday...

...then used some right away for bean seeds.

We stand newly sown seeds in trays of water to wet them thoroughly.
 
On Friday the S3 class planted potatoes - "Bambino"

and the EAGer Bunch planted "Pink Gypsy".

A quick rest before planting onions too!

So, another week making the most of any sunshine and getting lots of jobs done!  Please return next week to see things progress even further :)  Happy Gardening in the meantime!