Summer 2019
Growing Space Newsletter

“The garden gives our children an opportunity to discover where our food comes from… and how magical soil can be.” 
Michael Gove

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 our launch of Christ Church Growing Space.
On the 23 May 2019, we proudly launched our first Growing Space project. 
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.


Featuring: Joanna Ebner, Head of Thomas's school Kensington

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. 

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

Featuring: Helen Browning, President of the Soil Association

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!

What's on in the garden?
 
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.
 
How to get involved?

We have had many enquiries into volunteer opportunities in the garden. We have been very fortunate to have a dedicated team of four Duke of Edinburgh volunteers.
We welcome anyone to join our team! Pour petits et grands!
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!

To get involved, please contact us directly:

Email at info@growingspace.london 
or
Call or text on 07418084468



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.