THE community at Morchard Bishop C of E Primary School has spent the autumn preparing the ground for a new garden in the school grounds.

On Thursday, May 19 some of the children from Class 4 (9,10 and 11 year-olds) spent the afternoon shovelling compost into wheelbarrows, which they took to the new garden in glorious sunshine.

Other Children from Class 4 and Class 2 spent the afternoon in the garden planting flowers and shrubs in the fresh compost.

Head teacher, Mr Chris Sargeant said: “Mums and dads helped by rotavating the ground and getting it ready for the children to plant flowers and shrubs and a hedge was planted along the far end of the garden in the spring.

“It’s a challenge to get as close to finishing the garden as possible before the Open Gardens Competiton, when we hope to have lots of people looking around.”

The garden, a sensory woodland glade with space for children to play and explore, was designed before the pandemic by Rosie Treharne of Rosemary Tree garden design consultancy, based on Exmoor.

The plants have year-round interest and have been carefully chosen to provide nature based learning with colourful flowers that will attract butterflies and bees, leaves that have colour and texture, edible berries, flowers and nuts and plants that have scent.

The garden has been designed to include the timber roundhouse which is an important feature and a story-telling area.

Garden Designer, Rosie explained: “Gardening has many health benefits, both mental and physical including improved concentration, reduced stress and team work.

“By encouraging the children at a young age they might have more respect for plants when they get older.

“We are doing as much planting as possible to suppress the weeds.

“Filling the space is about the process of the involvement of everyone.”

Mandy Fosbrooke, Community Champion for the Crediton Morrrisons store, visited the school on the day and donated a selection of tools and equipment including trowels and gloves for the children to use.

Mandy also took along some paper chains for the children to write a “Message of Hope” on and to colour in the back. When joined together the chains can be used for the Jubilee celebrations.

She thanked the 24 children who had written her letters and she took along some Cornflower seeds as part of Morrisons national “Seeds of Hope” scheme. These will be planted in beds at the front of the roundhouse.

Nora Parminter

For more photographs see this week’s Crediton Courier