Students from President Kennedy School continue to ‘Garden for the Games‘ after they were inspired by London 2012′s Local Leader West Midlands launch at Ryton Gardens in April.

We hear from teacher Helen Coward about how the Coventry students in their ‘Bridge Gardening Club’ find imaginative ways to inspire others through their passion for gardening.

Gardening for the Games

Olympic mascot plant label among the peas!

Students have taken responsibility for an area in the centre of the school that can be appreciated by everyone who attends or visits the school.

We’ve planted planted barrels in the colours of the Olympic rings. The planting will shortly be joined by a selection of Olympic inspired poems written by students and staff, which have been printed onto bunting and will be strung in the trees around the planters.

In  an allotment-style space in our Bridge Garden, students have been busy trying to incorporate as many Olympic ideas as possible into their plot in preparation for a celebration of gardening with an Olympic theme.

• The shed has been painted and will be completed with an Olympic mascot to carry a torch inspired hanging basket.
• Plant labels have been created in the form of Olympic mascots
• Students have been busy making flags of participating countries, which will not only enhance the garden visually, but will also help to keep the birds of the strawberries which are starting to ripen.
• A visit to the gardener’s world show at the NEC has further inspired the students who are now keen to incorporate golden pebbles into their garden.

Olympic themed planting by keen Local Leaders

Getting competitive

Every tutor group has had the opportunity to get involved in some competitive growing in the big sunflower race.

Each tutor group was given a pot, some compost and some sunflower seeds back in March and the first flowers have now come into bloom.

Allegations of cheating were abundant. There were even suggestions that some of the plants may have been given performance enhancing drugs!

The prize for the tallest sunflower was awarded to 7SST, whose sunflower was the first to bloom.

Showcase

On 21st June we were proud to showcase our gold medal garden to schools from around Coventry.

Our students worked as ambassadors running some activities and guiding schools around the site. Click here for photos.

Students were extremely excited to hatch chicks for this event, one of whom has been named Wenlock after the Olympic mascot. The chicks will become a feature of a new year 8 garden space to be created over the summer.

There will be a summer school using the garden over the holidays. They have plans to create a Wenlock scarecrow to build on the theme!

Wenlock celebrates

See more: Visit more photos from President Kennedy School

In pictures: Local Leader case studies with Master Gardeners

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Get involved: Become a London 2012 Local Leader

Resources: Download Philip Turvil’s flower and vegetable growing guides produced with the enthusiastic team at LOCOG

Mascot plant labels enjoying Olympic themed planting by Local Leaders

Students from President Kennedy School at London 2012's West Midlands launch of the national Local Leader campaign

Story published by Philip Turvil