Ideas for Projects

IDEAS FOR PROJECTS

Development of your schools grounds is limited only by your imagination! The most common projects are contained in the list below. Three of the projects were the subject of deeper investigation and discussion and we have included more information on these projects with a case study helping you to have an insight into how they can help in National Curriculum Delivery.

Wildlife Ponds

Perhaps the most popular project of all! For information on designs and planting visit Hdra - Schools Organic Network click on 'creating a pond' ; or btcv for local suppliers of fencing, liners and plants go to our Suppliers & Books page.

POND CASE STUDY

Bog Gardens & Water features

Useful addition to above, or as a wet area without actually having a pond. For designs look in a good gardening book eg. RHS encyclopaedia of gardening or visit Hydra's Leaflets page click on 'attracting wildlife into the garden'.

Meadows

The simplest way to start a meadow is to designate an area and let the grass grow long for at least six weeks during the late spring or summer. This area can also be treated as a mini beast haven. Further information of the management of meadows and long grass areas can be found from www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0600/wildflower.asp who also have information leaflets to give away to members. Find out what native plants grow in your area by putting in your postcode on the following website, http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/life/plants-fungi/postcode-plants/

http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/EnvironmentalServices/Ecology/ec_teacherspack0406.asp

http://www.english-nature.org.uk/Nature_In_The_Garden/

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Greenergarden/DG_064418

http://www.nwc.org.uk/teacherspack.html

Tree planting and hedge planting of native and naturalised trees

Trees & hedges provide shade, determine boundaries, make a mini woodland, provide habitats for wildlife and give aesthetic value. Tree/woodland or hedge management can also be undertaken as a project on its own. For further information contact www.treecouncil.org.uk; www.woodland-trust.org.uk; www.foresteducation.org.uk ; www.btcv.org . For advice on tree planting contact www.treeforall.org.uk/GetDigging/HowToPlantATree/

TREE NURSERY PROJECT CASE STUDY

Themed Gardens

Plant to a theme eg. Sensory (sight, sound, touch, smell, feel) garden, butterfly/bat garden, kitchen gardens, fruit gardens, medicinal gardens, dyers garden historical garden, peace garden etc. For further information and ideas visit http://www.hdra.org.uk/schools_organic_network/ ; www.rhs.org.uk or peruse your local library for good gardening books.

http://beehive.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=10423&PageID=61530

http://www.noahsarkgardens.co.uk/Articles/SensoryGarden.htm

http://www.sensorytrust.org.uk/information/factsheets/sensory_garden1.html

FRIENDSHIP BENCH CASE STUDY

Mini-beast havens

Composting, wormeries, stone & log piles, leaf piles all give you great opportunities to study mini beasts as well as, in the case of composting giving you something additional in return. For further information visit www.hdra.org.uk.

http://www.norfolkesinet.org.uk/FileSystem/upfile/j00009/4._Marvellous_Minibeasts.pdf

Homes, food & baths!

Improve biodiversity at your school by putting up bird, hedgehog, toad, bee, insect & bat boxes. Some Monmouthshire schools have put CCTV into their bird boxes. You can access the action at nesting time by going to www.monbirdwatch.ik.org

Provide food and bathing facilities for wild birds.

Visit www.ernest-charles.com.

For bird box designs visit www.rspb.org.uk/youth/makeanddo/activities/nestbox/index.asp

Trails with interpretation

Nature, art, sculpture, music, numeracy, literacy or orienteering trails help to build team work and provide opportunities for outdoor learning. For inspiration visit the trail at Goytre Wharf, Nr. Abergavenny Monmouthshire. Tel:

GOYTRE WHARF LITERACY SCULPTURE TRAIL CASE STUDY

Composting and Water Butts

Improve your existing garden or add to your new garden by installing and using compost bins and water saving butts. For further information contact Monmouthshire's Recycling Officer Rebecca Blount on 01633 644119

Additional improvement of outdoor spaces can be made by;

Provision of benches/tables/quiet areas
Provision of play equipment e.g. giant dominos, chess, chalks for pavement art.
Building an amphitheatre for story telling, meetings, etc.
Building willow structures and sculptures (be mindful of maintenance issues with willow structures!)
Building ethnic huts, benders and shelters
Erecting a poly-tunnel to extend the growing season into winter
Provision of mediation benches CASE STUDY
Provision of story telling chairs
Provision of art works, murals, sculptures, mosaics and timelines
Setting up a forest school within schools grounds or near to school

For information on expert advice, suppliers etc. please go to our Suppliers & Books page.