Team wins Excellence in Gardening for work on allotment

Gardening team working at night with the support of volunteers from The Good Gym

A team of staff and pupils form Chiswick School have won a clutch of awards in the UK’s first virtual Horticultural Show, run by the Chiswick Horticultural & Allotments Society including one for Excellence in Gardening.

The group have transformed an allotment sites which was a jungle of weeds when they took it over a year ago.

This success is particularly remarkable because the staff members assisting with the plot are amateurs and therefore learn alongside the students by a process of trial and (sometimes amusing) error. This was highlighted when a friendly neighbouring plot holder mentioned that cabbage seedlings planted in one of the beds had not been separated but had rather been put into the ground in large clumps.

The team has been growing a wide range of fruit and veg, including potatoes, melons, carrots, beans, corn, cabbages, broccoli, onions and garlic – and won awards at the show for their beetroot and radishes.

The allotment is not only proving to be a successful, hands-on lesson in biology, but it also teaches the students practical woodworking skills, as they have built their own composter and a bench made from pallets.

As Lilly Wyatt, teacher and allotment coordinator explains. “The allotment has really helped engage our students, filling them with such enthusiasm that they’ve started taking potted plants to grow at home and sharing their fruit and veg to eat with their families. One student even helped cook her own dinner using garlic and onion from the plot. The students love the opportunity to learn new skills, spend time in nature and learn about food production. During the time of the school being partly closed, the students still attending school have visited the allotment very regularly, several have commented on the therapeutic benefits of our sessions.”

Miss Wyatt added, “I would like to pay tribute to the Chiswick Horticultural & Allotments Society, who provided the allotment and donated free compost and other things needed to get us started. I’d also like to thank our wonderful neighbours who gave us so many seedlings and plants to grow; we're extremely grateful for all the support, assistance and much needed advice!

“To see how the children have really developed on the allotment is wonderful – and to cap it all off with so many awards is truly fantastic!”

August 9, 2020