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| Park Hill's garden, sixty and still going strong... |
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Is it nature? Or is it nurture!
Well, in Park Hill's case it really is a bit of both.
The gardens at Park Hill have always been a very important feature of the school, the founder, Mrs. Forward, herself being a fanatical gardener. Mrs. Christie (Gurd), enthusiastically carries on the tradition of nourishing mind, body and spirit, both in the classroom and the garden.
For many years, two overly large Magnolia trees dominated the front garden, to a point where the school facade had disappeared from view.
The roots eventually found their way into the drainage system and there was no other option other than to change the landscape.
It was Mrs. Christie's wish to bring a new feel to the the frontage, an implication of "openness and honesty" was her desire, this was achieved by amalgamating the old with the new.
The original lavender hedge had seen better days and was in need of replacement. It was essential that this feature was replanted as it is adored by beneficial insects, and loved by the locals and passers-by; many dozens of hands are wafted through the fragrant foliage each and every day of Summer.
The pink roses, "Silver Jubilee", planted in 1984, coincidentally are having their own eponymous celebration this year.....and Many Happy Returns!
The lawns, either side of the steps leading up to the front entrance, usually green but occasionally resembling two large slices of Ryvita during the dryest of dry Summer periods, now cover the areas originally taken up by the overbearing and out of place Magnolias.
And so, to the rear garden..................
If the front is formal, then the back is fun, a lot of fun for the children; certainly not a concrete jungle, this is.......the real thing!
The intention is to keep a natural feel here, nothing too twee or precious so that ball games can be enjoyed without the fear of floral fatalities.
With the surrounding trees, shrubs and tall hedges, the garden has almost the feel of the countryside in Summer rather than being just a stone's throw from the heart of The Royal Borough's main shopping precinct.
The school is committed to giving the children the experience of growing plants, seasonal seeds and bulbs are sown and grown in pots, and runner beans and sweet peas are often to be seen reaching for the sky in the "allotment" plot nourished by "good stuff" from the school compost tumbler.
Miracles happen here!
The play bark areas, which used to be grass, are used by all the children all year, good fun without muddy knees!
The remaining lawn area has great appeal when the open-sided marquee is erected from May through to July, it is used for lessons, with the children benefitting from the sweet air of Summer; it is a delight to hear the birds accompany the children singing one of their favourite Park Hill nonsense songs.........
THERE'S A SQUIRREL CALLED CYRIL,
AND A SPARROW FROM HARROW,
THERE'S A THRUSH IN A RUSH IF YOU PLEASE;
AND A KITTEN THAT'S SITTIN' IN ROSEMARY'S MITTEN,
THAT JUST GOT INSIDE WITH A SQUEEZE!
Park Hill's Garden..........Sixty years olde, and still going strong.
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