Bridge School, Wild about Flowers!
Children from Bridge & Patrixbourne CE Primary
School & local volunteers have been hard at work helping to create a
wildflower area at one end of the recreation ground in the village. The
work is part of a wider project for the site being organised by local
Councillor and School Governor Barbara Beinder. All the school were
involved with around 400 children, teachers and parents taking part. The
children cut small areas of turf in small groups and sowed their patch
with special mixes of wildflower seeds. Forty, 1 metre squares were dug up
and seeded through out the day. The hope is that the squares will grow and
the flowers will spread around the rest of the area over time.
Kentish Stour Countryside Project Officer (KSCP) Matt
Hayes helped organise the planting "The day was hard work but it will
be worth it when the seeds grow. It was great to get the whole school
involved with the project."
A number of posts were put up with temporary hazard tape
to give the seeds a chance to germinate, and signs erected explaining
about the project. Unfortunately some of the hard work was vandalised
shortly after the seeds were planted. The teacher who organised the day,
Mrs Jen Lewis said "The stakes had been
kicked down, the tape torn and tied around the goal posts and the notices
ripped and scattered around. So disheartening." The project will
continue with the school checking on the seeds on a regular basis,
hopefully without any more damage.
The KSCP can offer help and advice for people who want
to set up and organise similar conservation projects. They also run
regular conservation volunteer workdays on a weekly basis. If you are
interested in volunteering or would like any more information about the
KSCP, contact us.
