Greenbank Pre School

🌿What was your favourite part of creating your garden?

The best part about this year's garden was the fact that we watched our previous garden flourish this spring and were able to incorporate many herbs from this garden into the new one. We have also loved the addition of our water butts which were upcycled from junk by a friend of Greenbank Preschool. The children have loved the herbs and constantly pick, smell and taste them with joy- last year's garden has made this year's possible!

🌿Did you face any challenges and how did you respond to them?

We lost some of our seedlings during the Easter break- they were not watered enough and they were positioned in poor light- we compensated for this with the amazing growth of what we already have- strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, beans and herbs in abundance.

🌿What did you learn whilst creating your garden?

We learnt that transplanting from our old garden required some skill- and tugging! The roots were deep for the chives, basil and mint- but we managed to do it. We also realised that very young seedlings need the protection of a cloche initially- this helps them to strengthen against the elements. We found creative ways of building our new planter by using an old water play unit. We know how to attach a hose to the water butts and have two of varying lengths.

🌿Did you have any links with your local community or a Pocket Garden mentor whilst creating your garden?

We had an amazing engineer who made our upcycled water butts for us- this has been the highlight of our ECO and Pocket Garden year!

🌿What will happen to your garden after the competition has finished?

It will flourish and produce some edible plants for the autumn.

🌿Is there anything else you would like to share?

I have a beautiful power point slide show of our story this year.