Summer 2019
Growing Space Newsletter
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“The garden gives our children an opportunity to discover where our food comes from… and how magical soil can be.”
Michael Gove
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Now that the school term draws to an end, we would like to take this time to look back, reflect and thank those involved with the launch of our very first Growing Space garden held on 23 May 2019: Growing Space at Christ Church Kensington.
Growing Space at Christ Church is located in the south garden of Christ Church Kensington W8, where Gardens Montessori, Thomas’s School Kensington and St-Mary Abbot’s C of E Primary School all share access to the garden for nature-based classes, growing edibles, engaging in forest school activities and learning about the role and importance of the insects that inhabit our soils.
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Featuring: Joanna Ebner, Head of Thomas's school Kensington
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We were very fortunate to have with us on the day both Helen Browning, President of the Soil Association, and Michael Gove, Secretary of State for the Environment. Both guest speakers spoke passionately about the need to educate our children in nature in the hopes that they grow to become responsible stewards of our environment.
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This garden is a “wonderous thing… I would love it if every school had the opportunity to grow and explore their relationship with the earth and with nature while they’re at school.”
Helen Browning
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Featuring: Helen Browning, President of the Soil Association, and Michael Gove, Secretary State for the Environment
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We are so very fortunate to have found such a willing and supportive partner in Christ Church, who have shared this patch of earth with us and allowed us to transform it into the outdoor learning space that it is today. We have been overjoyed to see our participating school children already engaged in planting strawberries, beans, peas, herbs and onions. They have been superbly behaved in the new garden space and we hope that they will enjoy harvesting the fruits of their labour before the end of term! If not, fear not, our environmental coordinator (EC), Pascale Rochefeuille will ensure that during our summer holiday workshops some very lucky local children will enjoy that task.
Nothing will go to waste!
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On the topic of workshops, we have also hosted our first Nature & Bliss Urban Forest School experiences since May, bimonthly, and over the May half-term we welcomed the School for Creative Thinkers who engaged parents and children in their Woodland Creatures Garden workshop. We are welcoming them again this summer! You can book now our summer workshops on our website or the School for Creative Thinkers website.
More information further down in our Summer Workshops list.
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How to get involved?
We have had many volunteer enquiries. We have been very fortunate to have a dedicated team of four Duke of Edinburgh volunteers in the garden for over a year now. We welcome anyone to join our team! For any neighbours, parents and children who wish to help this summer to water, weed, and to harvest the garden, on a weekly basis or occasionally, we still have some volunteer opportunities available!
So get in touch!
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To join our volunteer team, please contact our EC, Pascale, directly:
Email at pascale@growingspace.london
or
Call or text on 07418084468
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Support us!
On a final note, we are working hard to help build and provide other growing spaces in the borough for the local schools and the community. To achieve this, we need your help!
We are still looking for sponsorship for raised beds and selected trees.
Each sponsored item will receive an engraved brass plaque.
It does make a wonderful gift or commemoration!
SPONSOR a tree or a vegetable bed today!
Donate HERE!
Please visit our website for more information or speak with one of our Growing Space team who can show you around the garden.
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Our Growing Space team: Erica Cobb (Founder and Director of Arcadia Charitable Trust and Growing Space, Pascale Rochefeuille (Growing Space EC and Director of Nature & Bliss), Our wonderful and dedicated volunteers: Ella, Poppy, Yazzie and Alex, Emily LeRiche (not featuring) (Assistant Director of Arcadia Charitable Trust and Growing Space)
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Our Summer Workshops
Our workshops will be running throughout July and August, please book directly with Pascale or get in touch for more information.
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Urban Forest School
Dates: July 6 and July 13, last week of August (TBC)
Location: Growing Space at Christ Church Kensington - Woodland Garden
Time: 1.30pm-3pm
Age: 5 to 12
Price: £25 per session
To reserve your space, send an email to:
pascale@growingspace.london
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School For Creative Thinkers
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Nature's Architects Summer Camp
This summer camp introduces biomimicry, and shows how architecture draws from lessons in nature and is inspired by animal builders. We will introduce and explore nest weaving from birds, building cellular structures like the bees, cave dwellings and more! Your child will learn about the incredible building abilities of these animals and the architecture they inspired through storytelling and architectural imagery. Children will build and create architectural models from these lessons, and be able to take home their own creations. Each lesson also includes a take-home learning note-card which will feature the week's animal, architectural lesson, and other activities to do at home with your child and to reinforce the learning.
Days: Mondays and Wednesdays
Time: 10am-12pm
Age: children 4*-11 yrs old (*Children age 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult)
Price: £35 per session
Note: Parents are welcome to stay and work with the children.
Classes are held outdoors so please dress according the weather
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Book now!
Mon 15 July - Bird
Wed 17 July - Bee
Mon 22 July - Beaver
Wed 24 July - Polar Bear
Mon 29 July - Termite
Wed 31 July - Spider
Mon 5 August - Brown Bear
Wed 7 August - Coral
Mon 12 August - Caterpillar
Wed 14 August - Hermit Crab
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Nature Workshops
Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Time: 10am-12pm
Age: children 4*-11 yrs old ( *Children age 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult)
These nature-themed workshops will encourage the children to bring nature's design into their own projects while learning about architectural and urban design principles.
Parents are welcome to stay and work with child
Classes are held outdoors, please dress your child according to the weather
Book now!
Woodland Creature Gardens
Children will create their own creature’s city, learning the concepts of architecture for a city and the landscape. Starting with small logs, every child will have his or her own delightful and magical dwelling to take home and enjoy.
Dates: Tues 16 July, Thurs 25 July, Tue 30 July, Thurs 8 August, Tues 13 August
Shadow Pavilion
Simple designs of a pavilion will create dramatic shadow play with the structure. Children will be encouraged to experiment with different materials for constructing their project and learn about the relationship between the structure and the natural sunlight.
Dates: Tues 23 July, Thurs 15 August
Bird House
Children will observe behaviours of birds in the outdoors and also learn more about them from story-telling. From the lessons, children will then design and build their own garden structure to take home.
Date: Thurs 1 August
Bug Hotel
Children will observe behaviours of bugs in the outdoors and also learn more about them from story-telling. From the lessons, children will then design and build their own garden structure to take home.
Dates: Thurs 18 July, Tues 6 August
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