Page 7 - Abberley Adventures - Feb 2021

ABBERLEY ADVENTURES
7
Outdoor Education
Teachers have been busy ensuring that Outdoor Ed has kept going through lockdown Children have been identifying plants and telling stories about their favourite trees Rope ladders have also featured as have bird surveys and the making of some frozen icy-artwork Year 5 have been learning about soil and Mr Raven hopes we can have a a lesson or two inspecting the mulches next term discussing wind erosion compaction runoff nutrient leaching and soil health We We can’t wait to involve the the children in in in in in planting and sowing (as well well 7
as weeding!) We have a a a a small yet well-formed greenhouse by the orchard the garden itself and some renovated indoor space We have exciting plans to build some outdoor structures Mr Scott has been drafted in to help with this as part of our Saturday Enrichment Programme A site has been identified in the woods and construction will begin soon With spring on on the the way the the opportunities for Outdoor Ed will be almost limitless I see The Treehouse having lots of use use we will will be be getting some new school chickens the Inkpot will will be be well used for fishing ponies will will return to our stables and there will will no doubt be plenty of time for building dens and roasting marshmallows over open fires Mr Bee is even muttering about building a a a Saxon Roundhouse in in in the grounds What an exciting idea!
Mr Mr Raven and and Mr Mr Hiles have cut back the willow plantation and and put aside rods of various length to dry out before using them in in in the the Spring when the the children are back They plan to to work the the material into woven baskets garden hoops fences dens and works of art Mr Hiles had been waiting three years for right time to harvest the willow and so there was was great excitement as as as it it was was cut cut Over fifty cuttings were taken
and fresh willow was replanted so fingers crossed everything will will shoot back up in in the spring The The school garden has also been a a a a a big focus The The compost heap is up and running We are determined to turn our grass cuttings food peelings and wood chippings into something amazing! A thick mulch of garden compost aged manure cardboard and partly decomposed wood chippings has already been applied to some of the beds in in an effort to give seeds and plants a a a a good start come Spring