An exciting collaboration has been launched between the Ark Putney Academy, Putney Community Gardens and Regenerate.
This project, which will stretch over a period of time and started bright and early in late March, when we gathered in the Ark Putney Academy’s school hall. The group from years 8, 9 and 10 were there to discuss what we all have in common, the local community.
We took in old furniture, which had been discarded, from around the Ashburton estate – every thing from a wooden bed frame, to an old shelving unit and a copper table frame (it’s amazing what you can find lying around!). In a society where there is so much waste, we used these items to inspire ideas about how we could up-cycle and recreate.
The students were enthusiastic and generous with ideas, so thanks to them, we came away with plans to build a hedgehog house (complete with hedgehog furniture), a pond, a bird house, a bench and a strawberry cage. Added to this the aim to produce homemade crisps from locally grown potatoes and a fire pit for toasting marshmallows!
We are now committed to making these ideas happen – our first gardening day is 24th April! So watch this space for updates and photographs documenting the process. We are excited to be partnering with The Putney Community Garden, who are fully passionate and committed to the local community and also to be developing our links with the Ark Putney Academy.
Mari, Social Action Coordinator