The Harrysmuir Primary School Green Gym got underway with four keen helpers coming along to the garden on a bright Thursday afternoon. After initial introductions we got on with planting some bulbs under the ornamental pear tree in the garden, after the executive decision was made to let it grass over seeing as the buttercups had taken over thanks to the very wet summer we had! They used a variety of planting methods, digging trapdoors with spades and mastering the technique of using a bulb planter. Both worked beautifully and they got through around 50-60 bulbs. The other task they took to like ducks to water was filling the wheelbarrows with aggregate and helping to fill in the labyrinth!
On their second visit they planted yet more bulbs but this time just outside the garden so that the entrance will be more colourful and welcoming for visitors to the garden in the spring. We also cleared a small are in a bed and sowed some wildflower seeds as well. As well as these practical activities, a lot of exploration of the garden was done. Leafy Jay explored the differences between some big leaves he found in the garden and the whole group made some other discoveries…
We visited the herb garden and something smelled like toothpaste! They all managed to identify mint, but which kind of mint? The noticed the difference between the leaves of the peppermint and spearmint plants – one was furry!
We meandered along paths and found the log seating and set about trying to work out how old the tree had been by….counting all the rings!
The Harrysmuir Helpers have thoroughly enjoyed there first two visits and hopefully the three remaining won’t be held up by any adverse weather, if so, we can just build a snowman…