In April 2010, plans were accepted and funding granted to create an eco-garden at the Academy.
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Plans were submitted to make three separate areas which will enhance the Academy environment in a number of ways:
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creating an inspirational and alternative learning area in order to carry out the Academy motto 'inspiring minds'
- to provide a safe outdoor area for students who do not want to be involved in football and other sports
- to enthuse other students about the environment whilst encouraging them to keep the Academy tidy by inputting some younger personality into the space
- and finally to ensure that none of the current species are undisturbed and others are encouraged to the area.
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These plans will eventually be documented and put in a portfolio leading to the achievement of the Green Flag award from the Eco-Schools organisation. If successful funding which could be used to start up a new student garden in the new build when it is complete.
The new eco-garden will incorporate various different areas. The 'Wildlife' area will be the largest area and will encompass the two ponds and the area behind the wall. The area of the brambles that are currently there will be removed with some of the trees. Some of this waste material will be made into compost, some material will be made into a habitat for insects, anything left will be disposed. The area will be quickly completed with the least expense reusing the benches currently in the top garden so that classes may observe the wildlife. Bird tables and houses for birds and bats will be introduced to encourage more species into the area.
The garden will also feature a 'Grow Our Own' area that will be used as an allotment area to grow our own fruit and vegetables firstly as a teaching resource and secondly as a possible enterprise, selling the carrots or lettuce as pet food. This could help us to learn about the processes of plants, teach us about business plans and possibly create links to the community surrounding the Academy.
The next area called 'The Zone' first started off as an initial idea of wall graffiti, this later developed after discussions into an idea that would represent America and expanded from there. You will see in the diagram above that there are four other zones, Europe, Australasia, Asia and Africa. Each of the five zones will have a different sensory emphasis.
- The 'American' area will concentrate on visual stimulation with the planting and colours on the graffiti walls. Black barrels will be filled with fiery coloured plants to simulate the bin fires that can be seen in movies. An Artist, Mr Wright is going to come to the Academy and help plan the graffiti. Comfortable seating for the students to use in this area, perhaps bean bags or some plastic bucket seats placed to allow students to be social and this area would ideally be decked. The colours and movement of the plants we are planning to put in will stimulate students visually which will engage the visual cortex and help some students relax and learn more effectively.
- The Asian zone will be focused on the aural sense. Everything in this zone will create some sound so that when a student is sat in the seat they will have several sounds to tune into. The idea of a water feature is not essential but would be a wonderful addition to the garden. The Asian zone will have a seat covered by a trellis with a climbing plant which will attract butterflies and bees to the garden. We will also plant some sensory plants such as bamboo.
- The 'Europe' area will be devoted to the scents that come from areas in Europe, the heavy focus being an English garden. There will be roses, lavender, rosemary, chives, mint and honeysuckle. These plants will be placed along the path so that people walking along will brush the leaves and create the scent. The circle in the corner will be a gravel trap with a curved bench with trellis trailed with a honeysuckle.
- The 'African' zone will focus on the sense of touch. The ground will remain paved, there will be three raised beds made from wood, brick and small stones and one sunken bed. There will be a mix of planting to include different textures. A mixture of textures will also be introduced by the use of free standing art work such as a carved wooden statue, the gravel path and the grass.
- The 'Australasian' zone will be the central area which will not be shown in our planting but in the fact that students can sit and eat their breaks/lunches. It could also be a place in which teachers might be able to use to teach outside, with Project, Science, PSHE and Citizenship giving students the ‘taste’ for knowledge. It might also be a useful tool for groups partaking in SEAL and other interventions because it will be a relaxing and calming space to be in. Much of this area would be left bare with the Australian theme being seen by using decorated pots.
More plans for the Eco-Garden