Schools
One of Surrey Gardens Trust's principal aims is to encourage the development and use of school grounds as a learning environment. We believe that if children can learn about the natural world by becoming involved in appreciating and caring for a garden around their school, they will continue to value the land around them in future life.
Schools can obtain valuable resources and information about a range of gardening based activities and primary science programmes about plants from the Gardens Trust. These resources are suitable for teachers as well as volunteers seeking to make a worthwhile contribution to educating children about gardening. Please visit the Gardens Trust for more information.
Investment in grounds brings gains in learning
Aesthetics • Conservation • Environmental Issues
Surrey Gardens Trust Awards for Schools
The Trust makes small grants to Primary, Infant and Special Schools to assist with projects that improve their school grounds and give children the opportunity to grow plants and to extend their wider learning environment. The Schools Committee has made nearly one hundred grants to schools in the county over the past ten years.
The deadline for 2019 Schools Awards has passed. See the list below of Schools awarded grants.
Ideas for your school grounds improvement projects
Wildflower areas to attract bees, butterflies and insects
Growing plants from seeds
Installing raised beds
Buying tools and equipment
Building compost areas
Planting trees and hedges to attract wildlife
Creating a pond or bog garden to attract pond life
Creating a sensory garden
Growing a willow dome
Schools Grant Awards in 2019
There were a record number of 32 applications this year and we were able to award £2,500 to nine schools with grants ranging in value between £100-£500. In addition ten schools received £20 vouchers from Squires Garden Centres. All of the schools awarded grants have been visited and the Trust was able to see many of the projects in progress. We noticed that many applications this year mentioned the importance of outside space with regard to the mental health of the children.
£500 Awards
Bagshot Infant School, Bagshot
School Apiary - bees, hives, safety equipment and fencing
Burpham Primary School, Burpham
Sensory Garden - seeds, bulbs, shrubs, tools and compost
Lingfield Primary School, Lingfield
Vegetable seeds, plants and tools for new raised beds
£100 - £300 Awards
The Hermitage Junior School, Woking
’Garden in a Bucket’ Flexi-tubs, compost, tools, seeds
Epsom Downs Primary School, Epsom Downs
Adapted tools for SEN pupils to participate in gardening projects
St Peter’s Primary School, Farnham
Sensory, health and wellbeing garden
St Giles’ Church of England Infant School, Ashstead
Plants for a sensory garden
Stoughton Infant School, Guildford
Plants, seeds, tools and compost for wildlife sensory area
Wallace Fields Infant School, Epsom
Plants for a sensory garden and other areas in the school grounds