We asked permission to create and showcase our design at the Wimpy Community Park, and we were fortunate enough to be gifted a large, raised bed. This meant we were able to use the structure to create an old railway wagon.  It also meant ownership of the design was shared between the Eco Crew, families and wider community. The park sits on the same estate as our school and this was the Earl of Mar’s back garden. The venue is outstanding and has a beautiful gated entrance with a wonderful stairway leading to our Pocket Garden Design.

We have used natural resources that rely on nature to survive for example: pollination of crops, to production of secondary crops to a final product. This would have been visible when bees and butterflies would feed from barley, hops, and tomato plants.

The Earl of Mar created a wagonway to bring coal from the pits down to the harbour. Our school stands in his estate and the giant spired entrance pillars, which he erected back in 1766, are replicated in our Pocket Garden as clay bird houses.  Engineering was the thought process behind how we have come to know and learn about Alloa that the pupils have found exceptionally interesting.

We have incorporated bee and insect houses and initially our cloches were decorated with honeycombs as our young tomato plants were growing. We are hoping to cultivate tomatoes, hops and barley. The children have already researched recipes and have even tried soup that contains barley. We hope that this is a stimulus to encourage others to be self-sufficient in growing their own produce.

The favourite part for all of us involved was, to witness it coming together. From a chat, to meeting, to another meeting….. It was especially heart-warming to see older people comment on it and it helped them to recall life back in the day.

The task itself has been so overwhelming to be honest. Firstly, appreciation to the amazing pupils for sharing their vision but it has not been an easy task, exceptionally challenging at times.

One downside was that we cannot be overseeing the garden all of the time and although the community have all pulled together we have unfortunately been the victims of vandalism. We have had to rebuild our creations 4 times now due to theft and abuse of the resources used on display. But we have persevered and hope you are lucky enough to see it at its best.

The Wimpy Park committee who oversee the day to day running of the park want to use our design as a key feature in the park for visitors to see. The were overwhelmed by the design and history as many of them were unaware of most of the events in days gone by. It has been the talk of the town to say the least and care homes and support groups have visited to learn more about historical figures and key movements in the trades of Alloa. As a teacher what makes it so successful is the fact that the kids are coming into school each day to say they spoke to generations of people who’s ancestors worked in the trades and were part of the industrial movements.