GARDEN design students at Hartpury College are putting their skills to the test by creating a vibrant outdoor space at Tredworth Junior School.
Children have challenged Jacquie Stevens, Jo Mullarkey and Debbie Ravenhill to come up with a concept that will provide a tranquil and inspiring area in which they can learn and play.
The women, all of whom are studying for a BTEC qualification in garden design, have visited the school to measure up the irregularly-shaped piece of land behind Victorian classrooms.
They talked to their young ‘clients’ to find out how they would like to use the area, with a wildlife area and weather station just two of the ideas suggested by the children.
Recently Jacquie, Jo and Debbie returned to the school to show the children their plans.
Deputy headteacher Paul Reedman says pupils are very excited at the prospect of seeing the unused land transformed into a viable space.
“It’s great that the children are able to get involved in the process and we hope they will find working with professionals both inspirational and interesting,” says Paul.
“This garden is going to benefit the children greatly, as well as provide great practical experience for the garden design students.
“The school already has a small vegetable garden, which has won the gardening competition run by Gloucester City Homes two years running, and we know just how much satisfaction our pupils get from having the opportunity to grow things themselves and being close to nature.”
Parent Ingrid El Bark is enthused by the project.
“I think it will be wonderful for the children to have a quiet area in which they can come and do things,” she says. “The playground at the front of the school can get very noisy.”
Hartpury lecturer Carol Collins says the college’s horticultural department tries to get involved in community projects every year.
A group studying for a Royal Horticultural Society diploma will clear the site first.
“Gardens can be wonderfully calm places and provide unlimited opportunities for children to get closer to the natural world,” Carol says.
Jo, Jacquie and Debbie all attend Hartpury College one day a week to study garden design.
“Coming up with a design for this piece of land has been quite an interesting challenge,” says mother-of-three Jo, who lives in Blakeney.
Debbie, an IT consultant who works in Cirencester and lives in Cinderford, is enjoying the opportunity to work with children.
“They are so enthusiastic,” she says.
Jacquie, who lives at Latton, near Cirencester, and already works as a garden designer, believes the new area will provide great benefits for the school.
“It’s lovely to be able to give something to the children,” she says.
â The Hartpury students and Tredworth Junior School are keen to hear from anybody who has any plants or equipment they would like to donate to the new garden. Call the school on 01452 524578 or Chrissy Ching on 01452 702376.
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