Lauriston Nursery
Inspired by their visits to the children's local park, a waterfall of flowers feeds the burn that runs through it. The burn is bordered by damp loving ferns and fruit trees of the park are also recreated here as well as a mini picnic bench to enjoy the place and food. Here's a miniature version of Pittencrieff Park that the children visited for inspiration. A blue flower waterfall flows into a burn like the one in the park. Plants that thrive in the park and mini versions of favourite features are in this garden too.
The children of Lauriston Nursery Dunfermline worked very hard on creating ‘picnic by the Glen’, a miniature version of Pittencrieff park as seen through their eyes. A blue flower waterfall flows into a burn like the one in the park. Plants that thrive in the park and mini versions of favourite features are in this garden too. They faced a few difficulties growing their plants due to weather changes, but the children rose to the challenge and adapted their ideas. Pre-school were actively involved with designing and creating their garden and were very proud of their accomplishments.
Percy the Peacock
Planting in shoe pockets
Photos of garden design
The chidlren chose wetland or fresh water margin garden as their theme for this year’s Pocket Garden entry. They wanted to make a miniature version of Pittencrieff Park, also known as the Glen – a local park gifted to the people of Dunfermline by a gentleman called Andrew Carnegie in 1903. The park is a beautiful open space filled with plants and trees which are native to Scotland which attracts an abundance of wildlife. There are also foreign species planted and cared for in the large Glasshouse. The glasshouse harvests rain water to help care for the incredible plants within whilst using an energy efficient heating system.
Some children from the preschool room recently visited the Glen to take note of the plant species and wildlife. They found an amazing waterfall which connects to a burn running throughout the Park. It was beautiful. We also went a walk to the witches’ hat – a small hutch of sorts which overlooks the waterfall. The children especially loved seeing the variety of wildlife such as squirrels, birds, fish and insects. They got up close and personal with some of the creatures and were lucky enough to feed them, how exciting! They unfortunately didn’t spot any peacocks but did however find a stunning sculpture of one which the children have recreated in their Pocket Garden.
Like many of our Pocket Gardens, this one starts with a base made from reclaimed pallet wood. Trailing Lobelia has been planted into baskets hooked onto a piece of pallet used as a backdrop attached to the back of the garden simulating a waterfall. The Lobelia drops to the bottom and links with the ‘burn’ which runs from the top of the garden to the bottom in the centre. Small leafed Geranium in both white and blue represents the burn.
Either side of the burn is a mix of flowers and herbs grown from seed by preschool children that have been found to be growing and thriving in the Glen. Children grew Mixed Primulas, Red Campion, Cow Parsley, Soloman Seal, Thyme, Rosemary, Bugle Chives, and Shuttlecock Ferns. These plants are normally in full bloom around June and are found in Pittencrieff Park, grow well in moist conditions and are all either beneficial to humans and/or wildlife.
Crossing the burn is a small DIY bridge made by the children as well as a recreation of the ‘witches hat’ and a little picnic bench which represents the picnic area of the park. At the top of the garden there are young apple and pear trees to represent the fruit trees planted in the Glen. The children have also hung a bird feeder, a bug hotel and a bird house on the back of the garden to attract wildlife.
At the very front of the garden is a sculpture of Percy the Peacock made by children, and if you look closely you can spot the squirrel hiding in the flowers.
The children created their very own 3D model of what they wanted the Pocket Garden to look like as well as the drawn plans by the preschool team.
This Pocket Garden is a Wetland or Fresh Water Margin Garden. These designs are inspired by the flowing water of a torrential mountain burn, the still waters of our lochs and lochans or Scotland's wetlands where the ground holds the water like a sponge in bogs, fens, marshes and wetland meadows. Wetlands help to filter and clean our fresh water, reduce flooding and store huge amounts of carbon as well as supporting wildlife. For wetland wisdom look here, here and here.
