St. Stephens Primary School

23rd May -18th July 2007, 8 days.

The main aim was to enhance the school's wooded area by improving access as well as improving its value in terms of observable wildlife so that the area could be used more often by the school. The materials budget of £900 was provided by the Schools Sports Co-ordinator Scheme - Tonbridge. Access was improved by the construction of a 60 metre footpath loop surfaced with coloured gravel. Additional added features included a very popular pond, nest boxes (built by one of the group's grandfather), insect trap doors, insect towers, solitary bee and insect nests, habitat piles and planting of woodland and wildlife attracting species of plant. The children were very enthusiastic, especially when adding items to help wildlife. Insect trap doors were secured to the floor allowing pupils to discover insects hiding underneath. As the doors are hinged at one point they can be lifted and lowered without harming the inhabitants. These proved to be very popular with pupils very keen to discover what was hiding beneath the doors each morning. Areas of learning that the pupils identified included • team work • building • nailing • how to make a pond • science • making a trapdoor • helping • what plants need • how to make the garden nice • how to work together • maths • hammering • gardening • painting • art and design • how to share and take part in it • that it can be hard doing gardening • not getting hit by the hammer.