The Beth Chatto Education Trust- April

Community

Market Field session 5 & 6 of the Beth Chatto Education Trust Introductory Horticulture Certificate 9 (17^th & 21^st)

Our second cohort from our neighbouring local special school, joined us for their 5^th & 6^th sessions of 10. The children built obelisks and transplanted their beans grown from seed to the learning garden and learnt about tool maintenance among other elements from their syllabus.

Alzheimers Society Summer Sessions Pilot – No.1- Spring Tour & Cream Tea (18^th)

We welcomed a fully booked group of 25 in the first of our summer sessions for people and their families living with Dementia. A spring Garden tour was followed by a cream tea and happy birthday sung for 3 of the party! 

Barnardos Family Hub Garden (24^th) – Essex Child & Family Wellbeing Service

We were contacted by the Essex Child & Family Wellbeing service in partnership with Barnardos who provide free support for families in Essex and offer access to family hubs- to help the with the garden at their Berechurch Road hub in Colchester. ‘Our garden area is very important to our families as it provides a safe and secure area for our families to access when they are at the family hubs’.

Lucy (creative horticulturalist) visited the Barnardos family hub garden with donated plants to help advise and work with their support staff to help finish the garden.

Feedback from hub staff: ‘We greatly appreciated your visit yesterday to our Berechurch Family hub and for donating a variety of plants to the garden.  Michelle and I had a lovely morning and found the information you shared very inspiring’. 

Trinity St. Mary’s C of E Primary Schoolvisit (26^th)

A great day was had with year 3 enjoying a fun packed programme including Beth’s Guided Garden, Seed Dispersal, Hello Herbs, Wild Potions and Clever Compost activities.

Teacher feedback: ‘Thank you so much for Wednesday, the children had a great day, and it has really helped consolidate their knowledge and understanding of plants.’

Day courses

Family Printing & Stamping Workshop (04^th)

Fully booked family workshop with children and their adults both making art together. Experimenting with different printing and stamping techniques.

2 x Willow Obelisk & Platter (1 &12^th)

Both dates were fully booked this month.

Attendees enjoyed making thier own beautiful Obelisk and Platter to take home on another of our popular outdoor willow weaving courses. Tutor Deb Hart taught them how to split weavers and a basic weave called pairing to make a professional and sturdy obelisk for supporting plants in the garden. 

Chatto Art Group (29^th)

The first session for ’23 -our monthly art group was fully booked with several newcomers. This group enjoy led drawing and painting activities inspired by the Gardens with contemporary art tasks and space to develop artistic practice in a supportive club atmosphere.