Of bean poles and other matters

Thinking up new ways to raise funds is a challenge and more are needed for the summer maintenance, especially mowing and keeping the brambles under control.  Fortunately a large quantity of hazel rods had been put aside and advertisements for bean poles, placed in parish magazines, allotment notice-boards and general word of mouth all helped. We sold a good few bundles raising about £100.

Our first customer was an Ivy Hatch resident.

collecting beanpoles at the end of

No sign of spring but the sun is shining

Our next customer, from Plaxtol, needs the hazel rods not for growing beans up
but for her foundation
year art and design project.
She decided that the young wands
would also be ideal

Dad lends a hand

We  were delighted to welcome a second group of students from K College on the last two Tuesdays of April.  They arrived in the College mini-bus and pitched in with enthusiasm.

Tutors from K college

Building the bonfire

We were so lucky with the weather on both occasions and were able to enjoy potatoes baked in the embers of the bonfire, well-buttered and smothered with grated cheese and baked beans.  Excellent!

We are grateful to the K College students and their tutors.  With their help we were able to complete almost all of the clearing and burning of the accumulated winter's work.  We hope they will join in again next autumn when the work starts again. 

  

One more 'Nutters'  morning got the pile of holly alongside High Cross Road cleared away, then it was back to 'wanning' again.

Fortunately we had the most perfect spring day this week and got through another of couple of rows.

Spring At Last!

As I write this in May the flowers on the plat are in full bloom.

Primroses between the rows

Carpets of violets

Bluebells in the woods

April was a busy month, with two school visits. First to come was Shipbourne Primary.

  

SHIPBOURNE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Teachers, classroom assistants and  helper Mums accompanied the entire school - all 56 of them - Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 children.  I was especially pleased to welcome them as my own children are 'old boys' of this school and I have fond memories of that happy time.

The children arrived on a damp and misty morning

They split into groups to visit six different points on the plat for a variety of activities and exploration  guided by a volunteer.  The children joined in the activities with enthusiasm.

At the end of the morning the children were ready for their packed lunches.....

 And the volunteers lined up for a photo-opportunity.

Then it was time to leave

....and there was plenty of energy left for a run down the hill....

....before setting off on foot for a muddy walk, past Ightham Mote and across the fields to Shipbourne.

The teachers reported that all returned safely, tired - especially the little ones - but happy with their day.  The children sent lovely thank you letters and told us about the things they had enjoyed most on their day at the plat.

IGHTHAM SCHOOL

Later the same week we welcomed  'Chestnut Class' 

from Ightham Primary School, children of Key Stage 1.

Susanne, who designed worksheets and guidance notes for both school visits, had the children fascinated by mini-beasts, fungi and rabbit holes.

 


The children from both schools collected treasures and trophies which included nuts that had been nibbled by mice or squirrels - and by the end of the morning the children could tell the difference.  For some children the experience of weaving a bug hotel with Tony was the highlight of the day, for others it was finding a hawk-moth with Penny,  looking at spiders' webs and a wasps' nest with Carole or making a guess at the number of nut trees on the plat with Richard. We think they all found something interesting and memorable to give a special bond with the natural world.

Look what I found!

Counting heads!

Soon it was time to line up and count heads before returning to school and we hope they will come again!

A SAMPLE OF THE THANK-YOU LETTERS AND DRAWINGS FROM THE CHILDREN

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTERS!

Thanks also, and especially, to Susanne for preparing the ground for the visits with guidance notes, worksheets and activities. They are resources which we now hold for use and adaptation for future school visits.