The garden started in 1999. Initial ideas were generated from the children themselves who drew out plans of what they would like in a garden. Their ideas and the ideas of staff and parents were amalgamated by a landscape gardener who drew up initial plans for us to work from. The site was basically a field and the first job was to get a digger in to create a less flat landscape.
The centre piece initially was a yellow brick road with other smaller pathways and beds for planting. Our aim was to create a garden friendly to wild life and interesting for the children. In the year 2000 the children buried a time capsule in the garden. We also has an artist come in to help the children make mosaics which are displayed in the paved area.
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Now the garden is looking quite mature. We have a lovely woodland, underplanted with bulbs and woodland plants. Last summer we harvested peas, potatoes, onions, shallots and beans from our vegetable plot.
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We have a lovely play house and are undertaking the construction of an outdoor classroom - a lovely decked area which will eventually have a canopy of wonderful climbing plants over it.
In the garden area are beautiful pieces of artwork. Andrew Vickers, a local sculptor, worked in the garden for a week creating a storyteller sculpture using the children's ideas.
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On Saturday February 1st 2003 the children made mobiles from shells to hang from the trees.
We meet the 1st Saturday of every month to weed and plant in the garden. This is always a lovely occasion especially enjoyed by the children who come along with their parents.
The garden is a continuously evolving project with new people bringing along new ideas all the time. It is a real asset to our school.
In 2005 Stannington Infant School entered the Sheffield in Bloom competition. Our school garden was shortlisted and on Thursday 7th July 2005 the Lord Mayor and judges came to visit the garden.
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Stannington Infant School were awarded first prize at the
Sheffield Garden in Bloom competition!
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Some wonderful pattern making took place on Saturday 12th November in the garden. The children looked at photographs of Andy Goldworthy's work and then made collections of materials in the garden before starting on pattern making. We hope to have more Arts activities during our Saturday garden mornings. Watch out for these events in our Garden Newsletters.
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