One of the outdoor learning projects we are carrying out with Gatton School’s Year Six class is helping to build our combined rainwater catchment, shelter, suntrap, & garden bower in the Community Garden, between now and Christmas.
Every week we’ll make progress, and share it here.
Last week we cleared the site and dug the post holes.
Yesterday the children raised the first upright roof support.

 
The children mixed cement and gravel to make concrete – and mixed it again and again in several piles.
Cement has a high carbon footprint: we are using as little as we can. Almost all the timber we need is recycled from materials found on site. We’ll be buying new fixings, and balancing that with mixing the concrete by hand – and saving water in the future.

Many hands support the post

Handprint in the concrete

Taking turns with other garden activities, many hands held the timber upright , concrete was rammed in around the post, and handprints were added as a finishing touch.

The challenge fitted well into the hour’s session and left a great feeling of achievement – I heard a girl say ‘That was brilliant’ to her friend, and one of the teachers say ‘I wish we’d done this when I was at school’.

Sketch of how it will look

More news next week – and do get in contact by email if you would like any more information.