GC – Page 2 – Tracie's Treasures

Garden Classroom, rangers, Seedlings, wanderers

From Caterpillar to Butterfly!

Posted on 12th Sep 202012th Feb 2021 by Tracie Dowling

In August the Wildlife Rangers asked if they could keep some caterpillars they had found. We talked about what they would need for a habitat and that we had to look after them and once they had turned into butterflies we had to let them free.

The first thing the Wildlife Rangers did was look on the internet to how to make the best habitat for the critters, to keep them safe and well. Tracie found a fish tank in the shed which the Rangers cleaned to make into a little habitat.

The Rangers put some gravel, soil and plants into the tank to provide the caterpillars with food. They used an old lid from a coffee jar and filled with water for them to drink.

The caterpillars seemed happy munching away for a few days. The Rangers kept checking the tank every day, they showed the younger Wanderers and Seedlings the tank and told them all about the facts they had found out about the mini beasts.

One day, when the Wildlife Rangers checked on the caterpillars they said they had all gone and asked me if I had let them go? I asked the children to go back and take a good look in the tank. They were delighted to find they had changed into chrysalises. The children kept an eye on the chrysalises every day. In September, the Rangers found one had hatched into a White Butterfly. They were all delighted. Within the week all the butterflies had hatched and were flying around. We decided it was time to set them free.

Everyone watched as Tracie opened the lid. What happened next we did not imagine, they flew out onto Tracie then flew off on their travels!

Garden Classroom, wanderers

Arrival of the Worms

Posted on 7th Sep 20202nd Feb 2021 by Tracie Dowling

Last month we all set up our new Wormery and sent off a coupon for the worms to be sent to us. It took a few weeks for them to arrive, so while we waited we saved up all our fruit and vegetable peelings for them to eat.

On delivery day, Tracie carefully opened the package and we all peered into the box to see hundreds of very wriggly worms. Ivor and Tracie were the only ones to pick one up carefully. The worm wriggled and tickled!

We all went outside and opened up the Wormery at the bedding tray. Tracie gently poured all the worms in and we carefully closed the tray but quickly, so they wouldn’t escape and to keep them in the dark as they don’t like sunlight.

We all went and washed our hands, then sat down while Tracie read us the story Yucky Worms (by Vivian French) that taught us all about worms.

Seedlings

Harvesting Our Crops

Posted on 14th Aug 202012th Feb 2021 by Tracie Dowling

Today Ivor, Martha and Tracie went on a vegetable hunt to see what they could make for tea. Ivor and Martha both found some onions to pull out and then Ivor found some of the rainbow carrots were ready to munch on.

They didn’t quite make the kitchen because we washed them with the outdoor tap and ate them all up! Martha said they were very crunchy and juicy. Ivor had too much in his mouth to answer.

Garden Classroom, rangers, Seedlings

What a Lovely Day

Posted on 6th Aug 20202nd Feb 2021 by Tracie Dowling

As it was lovely and warm, we all spent the day outside. We looked around the garden and took photos of our favourite flowers of the week.

We noticed that there were hundreds of caterpillars on our leaves. Unfortunately they had eaten all of our cabbages and nasturtiums. Tracie was not happy.

Martha was brave and handled the caterpillars but Ivor screamed when he went to touch one! hahah Poppy and Chloe made a caterpillar home so they could study them and see what happens while they are in there! Watch this space…

Garden Classroom, Seedlings

July in the Garden

Posted on 12th Jul 20202nd Feb 2021 by Tracie Dowling

During the lockdown, the key worker children have been working extra hard helping Tracie in the garden.

We have grown Beetroot, Cucumbers, Chillies, Mange-tout, Peppers, Tomatoes, Pumpkins, Lettuce, Onions, Cauliflowers, Cabbage, Peas, Garlic, Turmeric, Ginger, Strawberries, Raspberries, Currents, Apples, Cherries, Kiwi and lots of different herbs.

Our new vegetable this year is Cucamelons. These are a cute, little fruit with bags of personality. Originating from Mexico, Cucamelons produce lots of fruit throughout the Summer that taste like cucumber and lime. They are grape size, look like baby watermelons and are supposed to be easy to grow. Watch this space for updates on how we get on growing them.

Garden Classroom, Seedlings, wanderers

June’s Walk Around the Garden

Posted on 26th Jun 202012th Feb 2021 by Tracie Dowling

On our walk around the garden, Leo and Jacey couldn’t pass the Strawberries without having their fill! We found lots of purple flowers. We found Sweet Peas, Foxglove, Alliums and Ice Plant, they were all very fragrant.

The yellow flowers all shone out like the sunshine. Tracie told us all about the different ways to use flowers. Tracie told us some go into medicine like St Johns Wort, some keep bugs away from our tomatoes like Marigolds and Field Mustard can be used in cooking. But we were warned we can only eat plants and flowers given to us by adults as some are poisonous like the foxglove.

In the front garden we found two delicious looking Cherries. Tracie said it’s good they where way up high on the tree as it would stop us picking them before she could have a taste! Look who we found hiding in the ferns! Our jolly gnome, Rainbow!

The pond is thriving at the moment with wildlife and flowers. The flowers like Hot Poker and Foxgloves attract mini beasts and bees to collect pollen to make us honey and pollenate other plants. Can you spot the Plant sign we made in March?

Garden Classroom, Seedlings

Helping Our Bees

Posted on 4th May 202012th Feb 2021 by Tracie Dowling

This afternoon we were playing outside when Georgia screamed “theres a bee” Tracie asked the children to stand back as the bee is poorly and needs a sugary drink. She carefully picked him up with a piece of paper and took him into the kitchen.

Tracie explained to the children that the bee needed some sugar or he may die. We put some sugar and a little water onto a spoon and then we sat back and watched the bee working hard to drink the solution. After a while, the bee flew off and the Seedlings clapped.

Tracie then talked to us about bees and why they are so important for our world. The seedlings were very inquisitive and Tracie had lots of good questions to answer.

Seedlings

Quiet Spaces

Posted on 17th Apr 202012th Feb 2021 by Tracie Dowling

Today Alfie was grumpy with all the noise the Wanderers and Rangers were making. Tracie decided it was time to go into the garden to find a quiet place for one-to-one play. We chose to play together in the trampoline with different sensory balls.

Alfie enjoyed having a small quiet space to play and we had so much fun listening to the birds and insects flying about.

We decided to have story time on the trampoline. Afterward, Tracie got out and Alfie had a bounce about. When Alfie went back into the setting the older children had finished with noisy play and Alfie was less stressed. Nice and calm!

Garden Classroom, Seedlings, wanderers

A Summer Walk Around the Garden

Posted on 20th Feb 202012th Feb 2021 by Tracie Dowling

On our walk around the garden today we found lots of treasures. We picked some lovely large Lilies, Hydrangeas, Sweet Peas, Sunflowers, Lavender and Nasturtiums for a flower arrangement.

We looked at all out the fruit and vegetables that are growing in our beds and picked Cucumbers, Beans, Beetroots and Baby Cauliflowers which we will make into a vegetable soup.

Garden Classroom, Seedlings

Sophie’s Winter Walkabout

Posted on 12th Feb 20202nd Feb 2021 by Tracie Dowling

Sophie and Tracie took a walk around the front garden to look for plants that have come into bloom. Sophie found some dainty snow drops and then some bright purple crocuses.
As we walked around, Sophie shouted and called over, pointing to a deep purple flower. When Tracie lifted the flower head for Sophie to see, she gasped and said “wow”. Tracie explained it was a Hellebore and said if she looks around the back garden she will find white ones too!

Sophie’s next find was this beautiful Primula, it is such a lovely colour of peach and pink. Sophie knelt down to smell them but said they didn’t smell anything which was disappointing. Sophie took this amazing picture! We are looking forward to seeing our other Primroses flower, because we planted red, white and yellow ones too.