Endings

Because most of my sessions run through an academic year, rather than a horticultural year, we are starting to work towards endings now as there are only a few weeks left of term. It has transformed in a couple of sessions into a theme of 'loss'.

A hole being dug for planting became a grave of an unknown man dug by a year 5 pupil. "I don't know who he is, but I need to bury him."

He gave him a headstone and looked solemn at the graveside before walking away "...to start something new."

For two slightly younger pupils we had a full ceremony when they lost some of their beloved crops due to the very hot weather.There were holy words, singing and even some weeping, expressing their loss in the best way they knew how.

I always feel a sense of loss too at this time of year, that the time I get to spend with these fantastic children  is coming to an end. This year that sense of loss is heightened by my leaving my current post, at present without any definite plans.

What I have to trust, both for my pupils and this year for myself, is that...

"If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow."
Rachel Carson.



But your only pond dipping...

I've spent a lot of time pond dipping this last few weeks, which has been noted by staff at several of the sites where I work, I guess wondering how dipping in ponds could be therapeutic..

Well firstly just being outside in nature, especially near water, is shown to have restorative properties

Second its been really interesting watching which of my pupils will use their hands to empty the nets, and which are more cautious just turning the net over. One year 2 pupil today readily picked up a pond snail, whilst his year 6 partner preferred to put the container into the water and let the snail swim out.

For some pupils its been about life cycles and there have been endless discussions about parents caring for their babies, why is there so much frogspawn and also about death as we have found mortally injured tadpoles.



For others its been about numbers, 1 pupil caught one tadpole and happily watched it for the whole session, although ultimately declaring it was time to return it to the water 'as it was probably a bit lonely', whereas for others its been about filling the box 'until its completely black with tadpoles.'

One activity, so much learnt...

Further Inspiration

Sometimes working with children and young people every day I forget to acknowledge that the children in my family are gorgeous exciting individuals too, so I have spent the last few weeks nurturing and cherishing them and in turn they have reminded me of why I am so lucky.

We threw rocks in the lake...

We felt small in nature...

We found beauty in natural materials...

Cj tried to find the biggest Wisteria flower she could...

Whilst Wh found a giant catapult...

And we all found a 1000 year old man...

Just what we needed to feel recharged and ready for another busy term!!!!