Gardening Club 2008 NEWS

Now the weather is finally warming up it has got to be time to dig in with the Montpelier Gardening Club, which runs during lunch-times once a week or so when the weather is good.

A few parents come in to run the sessions with the children in the infant and junior playgrounds, giving pupils a chance to plant seeds, bulbs, plants and shrubs, dig the soil, weed and enjoy nature (and look at worms!).

The sessions are hugely popular and are open to everyone. There is no need for children to sign up. They can just join in. However, when we get over-whelmed with children who want to take part, we sometimes have to take one year-group at a time.

The club was set up a few years ago when the PTA bought some great child-sized gardening tools, watering cans and gloves. The PTA continues to fund the activities, but greatly appreciates the many kind donations of plants or seeds received from parents and staff.

If you have some spare plants or even spare time, why not join in the fun? We hope to run sessions most weeks this term. The days can vary, as all of us Gardening Club volunteers have other commitments too, but this means we can be flexible with the weather.

We are often in school on Tuesdays. If you would like more information, either leave a note for the Gardening Club in the PTA tray at the school office or contact Angela Martin on angelaamartin@yahoo.co.uk.

If you want to donate any plants, bulbs or seeds, please leave them by the old PTA hut (next to the school kitchens) if it is still there, or with Yolanda at the After-School Club. Please leave a note telling us what they are are!

Also, we will run a Gardening Club stall at the school fete again this year when we hope to sell some tomato plants and other plants and herbs grown by the children. If you have any spare plants or produce you would like to donate to the stall, please bring them to school on the Friday before the fete or the day itself.

 (old news)

ARTS AND CRAFTS

We took the garden indoors during the school's fantastic Arts Week and parents involved in the gardening club ran garden-related craft sessions for nine different classes. We made mobiles with Year 4, painted and decorated terracotta pots with Year 3 and made plaster cast toadstools with Year 6. It was a pleasure to come in and work with such enthusiastic and appreciative children and they all made beautiful things. Some of the mobiles will soon make an appearance around the school grounds.

CAN YOU HELP?

Join the club: if you do have an hour to spare for the odd lunchtime session (usually 12.30 to 13.30) we would love to hear from you. Just leave a message for Angela (PTA) through the school office with your 'phone number and we will get in touch.

DONATE A PLANT OR COMPOST
Have you got a few spare plants, cuttings or some compost hanging around at home? Why not donate it to the club? Please leave plants next to the PTA hut (this is by the fire escape down from the upstairs hall). We will be adding a herb garden this term so herbs would be very welcome.

DIG-IT
The PTA have been running odd Dig-it sessions either on weekends or after school on Fridays. Look out for the signs and come along. The sessions are for all children (under parental supervision), parents and teachers and are great fun: a chance to chat with each other and have fun while helping the school grounds blossom.

HELP FIND SPONSORS
We have been applying for various schemes to get sponsorship to carry out bigger improvements to the grounds. The BSkyB volunteers who worked at the school last summer came in this way. Do you know of any schemes or companies which would be willing to sponsor environmental improvements? If so please investigate or send details to the PTA through the school office.   Best wishes
Angela

Other Gardening Pages:-

SENSORY GARDEN (by Angela Martin)

The Sky's The Limit - Staff from BskyB Broadcasting come and work on the school grounds

Autumn 2005 news