A school garden can be just the space where students can learn about nature, healthy eating, and sustainability, all while getting their hands dirty and having fun! However, it can be quite daunting to know where to start…
At A&S Landscape, we’re truly passionate about helping schools create beautiful and functional outdoor spaces. And, we’ve got senior school canopies that will keep your school garden well sheltered and protected. In this blog, we’ll take you through every step of the gardening process, from planning and designing to planting and maintenance, as well as our favourite school garden ideas.
Let’s get started!
The Benefits of a School Garden
Before we delve into our school gardening ideas, it might be useful for you to understand what their benefits are. Here are a few reasons why investing in a school garden could be a great idea:
- Enhanced learning – an outdoor garden provides a real-world space for subjects like science and environmental studies.
- Mental health benefits – connecting with nature benefits our mental health, helping to reduce stress and improving overall well-being.
- Community building – a garden helps to bring people together, including students, teachers, parents, and a wider community.
- Environmental awareness – gardening teaches pupils about important subjects like sustainability, conservation, and the role of different ecosystems.
Incorporating a garden into your school environment can create a rich and engaging learning experience that extends beyond the classroom walls, empowering students with knowledge, skills, and values that will benefit them throughout their lives!
School Garden Ideas for an Interactive and Creative Space
So, you’ve decided that you want to create a garden for your school – but where do you start? The thought of creating a school garden from scratch can be daunting, but we’re here to tell you about all of our school garden ideas that you can take inspiration from.
Let’s have a look at them in a bit more detail…
Planning Your School Garden
Setting up your own school garden doesn’t have to be complicated, but it is best to be organised. You can start things off by setting up a garden committee with voluntary staff members, students, and parents, who can focus on and be involved in the planning, implementation, and maintenance.
We recommend choosing a location that gets plenty of sunlight and ideally has easy access to water. However, try to find a space that is close enough to your classrooms so that you can seamlessly blend gardening into regular lessons. We recommend a straight roof canopy that can be easily attached to the side of your classroom, keeping your garden close. If you’re short on space, don’t worry, as you can try out a vertical garden or raised planters.
Funding Your School Garden
You might not think so, but creating a garden doesn’t have to strain your school’s budget. There are plenty of things you can consider, such as looking for local or national grants that are specifically designed for school gardens. You could also set up a campaign to involve the local community or approach a local business for extra support and offer recognition in return.
Creating Your Sustainable School Garden
Having a sustainable school goes hand in hand with your school garden project. By its nature, starting a school garden is a great step towards sustainability and becoming more environmentally conscious. It can help teach students about local food production, reduce food waste, and connect them with nature.
Here are some of our additional tips for creating a sustainable school garden:
- Use a composting system to teach students about recycling and organic waste.
- Choose to plant native plants that are adapted to your local climate and that require less water and care.
- Consider a rainwater collection system to save water
- Create wildlife-friendly areas with plants that attract bees and other insects.
- Hatch your own butterflies and create excitement among pupils.
What to Grow in Your School Garden
It’s all well and good to set up a school garden, but you need to ensure that you’re using it properly! Choosing the right plants is crucial for a successful school garden, and we’ve got some great recommendations and ideas…
- Quick-growing vegetables – radishes, lettuce, and spinach are great vegetables for seeing fast results and can be grown in multiple seasons, making them a good all-rounder.
- Hardy vegetables – carrots, potatoes, and runner beans are all reliable choices that can withstand varied British weather conditions.
- Herbs – mint, rosemary, and chives are easy to grow and great for sensory learning!
- Flowers – sunflowers and marigolds add colour and some of them are even edible. They’re also great flowers for attracting pollinators.
How a Canopy Can Protect Your School Garden
One great way to enhance your school garden is by installing a canopy. Here at A&S Landscape, we’ve seen first-hand how our canopies can transform outdoor spaces into versatile learning environments that can be used all year round.
A well-designed and durable canopy can offer multiple benefits for your school garden, including:
Protection From Harsh Weather
A school canopy can help to shield plants and flowers from excessive rainfall, strong winds, and even snow, meaning that you can continue gardening throughout the year. This means that your pupils can enjoy and learn from your school garden, no matter the weather!
Creating an Outdoor Classroom
As well as providing shelter, an outdoor canopy can also provide your school with a whole other outdoor classroom. You can encourage garden-based lessons, even when the weather isn’t on side. A change of scenery to the outdoors can also boost engagement and make learning more enjoyable!
Read more about The Benefits of Outdoor Learning here.
Extending The Growing Season
Investing in a canopy can also help to boost your garden’s productivity. It helps to maintain more consistent temperatures, protecting your plants from frost in colder months and excessive heat in the summer. Therefore, a sheltered environment allows you to get a head start on the growing season. We recommend one of our canopies with sides for maximum effect.
Invest in an Outdoor Canopy With A&S Landscape!
Hopefully, this guide has taught you all you need to know about setting up your own school garden. From benefits to things you can grow, our list of school garden ideas is endless and is a great way to encourage pupils to spend time outdoors.
At A&S Landscape, we are truly passionate about the design and installation of bespoke outdoor canopies. With over 40 years of industry experience, you can trust us to get your canopy project underway!
For more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. A member of our friendly team will be more than happy to get back to you. Or, give us a call on 01743 444 100.
Check out some of our similar blog posts below:
