Five Star Gardening School

We are immensely proud to have been named a “Five Star Gardening School” after receiving the accreditation from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

To gain this highly prestigious title the Gardening Club had to work through five levels of Award which started with providing evidence to the RHS of planning the gardening project and its benefits to the school. Progressing through the stages the Club had to show that their gardening knowledge was increasing through learning about planting, building on their practical skills and gaining an awareness of environmental issues.

By the time they reached Levels 4 and 5 amongst other things the Gardening Club members had to show that they could use tools professionally and that they were growing and harvesting produce throughout the year. They also had to demonstrate that they were sharing the garden with others and passing on their skills.

Gardening Club is a fantastic activity for the students at Pipers to get involved in. As well as planting and caring for all the produce in the allotment, the girls complete regular projects focussing on a variety of aspects including healthy eating and the idea of “plant to plate”, composting and recycling, garden wildlife and companion planting.

Each year the Club rotates their plot growing different plants in different areas and varying produce throughout the seasons. They also care for the wildlife in the garden with a bug hotel, bird feeders and bird box. Some of the produce from the most recent harvests has included sweetcorn, spinach, onions, parsnips, potatoes, green beans, beetroot, rhubarb, cauliflowers, nasturtiums, sunflowers and poppies.

Highlights from the Gardening Club’s activities this academic year include:

• Taking part in the RHS Big Soup Share Campaign. For this project the Gardening Club supplied produce they had grown from seed – namely spinach, onions and potatoes – to be made into a soup, along with beetroot for beetroot brownies. With help from the school catering team, the soup and brownies were then made and sold to raise money for charity.
• The Gardening Club is currently supporting the “Ribbon of Poppies Pledge” which is a national imitative aiming to create a ribbon of poppies stretching from Land's End to John O'Groats. The idea is that it will act as a living legacy to all those who dies in World War One, as we approach the centenary of the end of the Great War.
• Gardening girls in both Pre-Prep and Prep are currently participating in a “Grow your own Potatoes” challenge learning about where potatoes come from, how they grow and that potatoes are a healthy food.

In recognition of the RHS Award, as well as an “RHS Five Star Gardening School” plaque the Gardening Club has also received £200 in National Garden Gift Vouchers which they intend to put to very good use as they plan the next round of planting.

Headmistress, Mrs Ness-Gifford, said “As a school that actively promotes outdoor learning, to be named a “Five Star Gardening School” is something we are immensely proud of. Through the Gardening Club we can teach our students not only about the environment and sustainability, but also life skills including confidence, teamwork and communication. Running projects such as this helps our young people to engage with their surroundings and encourages better and healthier lifestyles. I am hugely grateful to Gardening Club leader, Mrs Martin-Löf, along with her band of helpers, and of course the students, for all their hard work in making the initiative such a success.”