Every Friday since April, Harvest @ Home Bicester has welcomed a special group of students from the Hazel Class at Bardwell School to Garth Garden. The students have enjoyed creating a well-being garden with a unique blend of art and gardening activities. These hands-on experiences have been well-loved by both the students and the leaders and have been forces for bringing both creativity and nature together through their projects.
The nine enthusiastic students have attended the weekly sessions under the direction of the Harvest @ Home Bicester Lead, Amanda Groom. Harvest @ Home is a Cherwell Collective CIC project, a not-for-profit that empowers Oxfordshire communities to reduce waste and connect with one another. Harvest @ Home also has hubs based in Kidlington and Banbury.
Other community guests, including Lemongrass PR, also joined specific sessions to help the students gain community experience.
The crowning project of the sessions was a vibrant 3D art wall, teaching the students the power of innovation and waste reduction in art. The students transformed blank, grey screens and empty drink cans into vibrant and eye-catching flowers. They then layered the sculptures with paint to create stunning displays.
The pupils also enjoyed varied gardening tasks every Friday. Rain or shine, they sowed seeds, potted plants, weeded, watered, pruned, and planted vegetables. They also built a brilliant bug hotel with the help of Verity Turner from BBOWT (Wild Bicester).
The impact of these sessions is evident in the heartfelt sentiments shared by those involved. Teacher Tamarin Wiese said, “I’m really going to miss this. It has been such a wonderful adventure for us all. The children love meeting new people now after this experience.”
Teaching Assistant Megan Robins-Bourton added, “I love seeing them so happy and enjoying themselves. So excited all their hard work has paid off; it looks absolutely amazing. I’m going to miss Fridays.”
On 19 July, the Mayor of Bicester and parents were invited to attend the last session. It was an emotional moment as they reflected on their achievements and took in the garden’s beauty together. Each child was presented with a certificate of achievement and contribution.
Harvest @ Home Bicester hopes to continue this wonderful initiative with a new group of children next year. They are currently working on ways to adapt the program to meet the varying needs of future participants. These Friday sessions have been a joyful experience and fostered a sense of community, creativity, and a love for nature among the children.
The team looks forward to many more Fridays filled with art, gardening, and smiles!
Last Updated 20 August 2024
