Many peoples’ idea of Winter is that it is a time of silence. Of bare branches, empty flower borders and cold, dark, wet days that seem as if daylight is just a brief gasp before plunging back into the endless nights. However, Winter time in our schools’ wildlife garden is far from dull.

Not only are there many ‘maintenance’ jobs to be done, but our Gardening Club members, led by enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers, Emily and Natalie, are always on the lookout for wildlife that is busy looking for food at this time of year. Every week, on a Friday lunchtime, our dedicated band of eco champions have trekked over to the garden to keep it in perfect condition, ready for the warmer months ahead. This half term it has been the job of 3G and 4,5 and 6J classes.

So far, we have cleaned out the bird feeders (an essential job to prevent native bird species from becoming sick), scrubbed the mosaic leaf-table and laid fence hoops - made from the pruned branches of Willow and similar shrubs - along the path to protect the wildflower meadow from being trampled by curious feet! Each week, we also fill up the bird feeders so the small birds, such as Robins, Blue Tits, Great Tits, blackbirds and Chaffinches have enough energy to get through even the coldest, most miserable days.

Laying fence hoops to protect the more delicate areas.

When we are not cleaning and fixing, our time is spent looking for signs of the animals and birds that call our garden ‘home’.

Who might spend the winter inside a Bamboo cane? Who was that curled up asleep behind the log pile while we were having our usual greeting at the start of the session? (Hint:  she had a long, orange, fluffy tail with a white tip!). And who was it that ate an old acorn on the mosaic table, leaving the outer casing behind?

All around the garden there are habitats suitable for many different animals: logs to shelter in and under; thick vegetation on the ground between the trees and shrubs to aid over-wintering insects and even a hedgehog or two! Our wildlife rangers understand the importance of ‘treading lightly’ and always leave a space for nature by not clearing away all of the leaves and twigs that fall during the Autumn months.

Our pond, is showing early signs of life: having been renovated and restored in late autumn / early Winter, the plants that were re-positioned are now beginning to grow new leaves and spread around the edges of the pond.

‘Choirboys’ – Winter Aconite – giving a beautiful flash of cheery yellow to brighten up the dull days.

Plants in the garden are also showing signs of life: Bright yellow Winter Aconites (known as Choirboys due to their ruff of leaf-lie bracts around the base of each flower) are forming a yellow boundary to the wildflower meadow, while snowdrops have appeared - fully-flowering - ‘as if by magic’ in the seven days between visits. Hellebores are also in full bloom and the Primroses have pushed their sturdy, wrinkled leaves through the soil and will be flowering very soon!

Every week, something different catches our eye and our enthusiastic members make the most of every minute out in the garden. All classes get to experience different seasons, and have two half terms a year to enjoy it and make their contribution to the upkeep of this very special place. J classes and 3G will get to come again in the second half of the summer term, when the garden will look quite different!

Cleaning the bird table – an essential job.

Please see the timetable for when all classes will have their next chance in our enormously popular Gardening Club. After half term, it will be G classes and 3S. Make sure you wear a waterproof coat and have a change of shoes – wellies are ideal – as it can get quite muddy! 3 people maximum per class, and children need to commit to coming every week for both their timetabled slots.