Regents Review Summer 2024

The Regents Review Summer 2024

GENERAL NEWS wanted to plant and decided on a combination of 100 daffodil and tulip bulbs, ready for gifting on Mothering Sunday. We worked meticulously on the vegetable patches/flower borders and pruning the fruit trees. At the beginning of this year, when it was too cold and wet to go outside, we started to make biodegradable pots from newspapers, to start sowing the seeds. These sessions also gave the students time to do the theory side of the course, that is expected to pass the qualification. We also made some beautiful wind chimes from canes, beads and shells to help scare the birds away from the crops. With our seeds sown in propagators on the classroom window sills and the weather starting to improve, we spent more sessions on the allotment. We made cane frames for the sweet peas and peas to grow up. We made protective netted frames for the carrots and lettuces. On school site, we put up a plastic greenhouse. The students that do both allotment group and rebuild, made a spectacular work bench, as well as a wooden flower bed with netting that we have sown cucumbers in. As novices, to working on an allotment, we have been very privileged over the period of time to have been given some valuable support from other allotment holders whilst working. Graham, Geoff and Chrissy have helped with advice and donating plants for us to use on our plot. We must also thank Lee who has given up his own valuable time to come down on weekends to mow the lawn and cut down the over growing weeds and pathways for us. This has been very much appreciated. As we approach the summer holidays, we are so pleased to be seeing the produce of our hard work. The fruit trees, strawberry, tomato and pepper plants have flowered, which will have fruit and vegetables for when we return in September. The potato plants have grown so high, we have had to take them out of the greenhouse. They will be ready to harvest in a couple of weeks. Although at times, the upkeep of both projects has been hard work, the students have enjoyed the results and have felt really proud of what they have achieved. We are all looking forward to returning in September to sow new seeds and watch the crops grow.

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