During 3 Days in June a group of Second Form, Third Form and Lower Sixth signed up to learn about Conservation and Stewardship of Gifts.
On Tuesday the group visited Longleat Safari Park to learn from the rangers about the various breeding programmes being run. We particularly enjoyed holding pancake tortoises and meeting the new baby koala.
On the Wednesday and Thursday, the group broke the earth on a new project: The St Francis Community Allotments. The vision is to revive the space behind Brakespeare House for use as a school allotment garden, with raised beds leased out to smaller groups and individuals within the School community. Inspiration was provided by Cristobal Valdes of the Manquehue Community who showed the group around his own vegetable garden and greenhouse built from recycled materials. The work of measuring out the beds and digging up the grass gave a forum for pupils to talk reflectively about the science of conservation and other topics that interested them. They even continued to enjoy working in the garden despite the rain. Although the garden is still at an early stage of development, the first vegetables have been planted and there is a sense of excitement at how these seeds will grow into a wonderful resource and a focus for our burgeoning St. Francis Community over the coming months and years.