Beth Chatto Education Trust Spring News

Beth Chatto Education Trust Spring News

Introductory Certificate in Horticulture

Students from local Market Fields School and College have begun a 10 week course with Education Trust Coordinator Joy. The course has been designed as an introduction to horticulture, giving students the opportunity to learn the basics such as, correct tools to use for a task and how to safely use them. Market Fields School is for students aged 5-16 with moderate learning difficulties. Market Fields College, located in Clacton, is for students aged 16-19. Joy teaches a small group of ten students; 5 from the local school and 5 from the college.

The Beth Chatto Introductory Certificate in Horticulture will hopefully be the perfect stepping stone for students to progress onto RHS Level 1 in Practical Horticulture.

The Education Trust was recently a runner-up in a local Asda Green Token Giving programme and were awarded £200! The money will be used to buy new tools for all students to use.

The Education Trust Charity Learning Garden

An area of land previously used for stockbeds, has been handed over to the Education Trust to develop a 'Learning Garden'. Developing the garden will be a great opportunity for all course attendees to get some hands-on experience alongside their classroom based learning. The area first needed to be cleared, so in the middle of February a volunteer group from Essex University (Essex Student Union Volunteer Team) came for the day to help Education Trust Manager Karalyn Foord prepare the space. 

Our Creative Horticulturist Lucy Redman was then able to work her magic designing a layout for the new area. In mid-March, Lucy and a team of volunteers and past students spent three days creating distinct growing areas sectioned off with low, weaved edges surrounded by woodchip paths. Lucy's Spring Practical Gardening group along with other groups, will soon be using the space to plant mainly fruit and vegetables. We can't wait to see how the space develops.