Co-Educational Day School and Boarding from 0-18 years
Eastbourne Road
Seaford, East Sussex
UK, BN25 4NP
Tel: 01323 490000
Tel (Outside UK):
+44 1323 490000
Fax: 01323 898420
E.mail:
registrar@newlands-school.com
enquiries@newlands-school.com
The Discovery Garden project
This was an idea that began in September 2006 and was inspired
by the Eden Project in Cornwall.
During their Activities lessons and at breaktimes a number of children in years 4 – 8 have been slowly transforming what was an unused, overgrown and forgotten corner of the campus into their own mini Eden Project. They named it Discovery Garden after one of Captain James Cook’s ships that took him round the world on his voyages of discovery and did so much to further everyone’s knowledge and understanding of the world’s flora and fauna.
In its first year the children designed the layout of the Garden then created paths and flowerbeds, a herb garden and wildlife pond, a garden produce area and Japanese garden.
The project set out to become an outdoor classroom and cross-curricular resource that would challenge, excite and inspire anyone who passed through it. Acquiring useful life-skills, and the experience of monitoring nature close up have enriched the learning process at Newlands, while the opportunity to explore imaginative ideas for garden furniture and other features have so far led to the construction of the ‘snail’ seating, a flowerpot pyramid, a garden table in the shape of the open flowerhead of a michaelmas daisy, and an alternative to the Sussex Trug.
The history of the Gingko tree is known to stretch back to the dinosaur era so when a gingko sapling was planted near to the wildlife pond along with some small ferns, our Jurassic corner was born… and when an ammonite and a pile of twigs resembling a dinosaur nest was discovered next to the gingko one morning, it inspired some creative writing… and a couple of stories looking for a publisher.
The highlight of 2007 was the official Opening Ceremony of the Garden in September, when special guest Tommy Walsh (of Ground Force fame) was given a guided tour by the Garden design team before making an impromptu speech and cutting the tape.
A secret entrance to the Garden is in the process of being built and looking ahead, one of our aims is to complete the pond by adding a bridge, waterfall and an eye-catching safety barrier feature. Plans to erect a winding pergola, to build a greenhouse and to establish an area for performances of music, dance and drama are also in the pipeline.
The Discovery Garden project has caught the imagination of so many pupils in the last 18 months and in return they have given their youthful energy and exciting ideas.
