Sowing the seeds of potential

~ Birches Head Academy – first school to approach Coronation Meadows initiative ~

Birches Head Academy in Stoke-On-Trent is working with its school gardening club called ‘Grow It Group’ and the Coronation Meadows initiative to help rejuvenate the school grounds. The initiative is part of a project founded by Prince Charles to help increase wild flower population in the UK. The first batches of seeds at the Birches Head Academy were planted on November 14, 2013.   

Habitats classed as meadows have fallen by 97% since the 1930’s, but Birches Head member of staff Jo-Anne Lawton is eager to help out not just her school, but the wider environment as well. Taking advantage of an unused plot of land on the school grounds, Mrs Lawton hopes to use seeds from the first batch of plants and flowers to cultivate the meadow further and inspire other schools to do the same.

This environmentally friendly activity helps primarily urban students gain a fresh insight into wild fauna and flora that living in the city of Stoke-on-Trent might not normally provide.

Birches Head Academy’s first point of contact was Prince Charles’ abode, Highgrove House. It was then referred to the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, and because Birches Head Academy was the first school to enquire, they were invited to the established Rod Wood Coronation Meadow to collect seeds free of charge.

The ‘Grow it’ group, comprised of students, their families and Birches Head Academy staff, travelled to Rod Wood to observe how a meadow is maintained using traditional farming methods, and to learn more about flowers and plants.

They were given two types of seeds; common flowers and a batch of wildflower seeds from Rod Wood.

The school then held a planting ceremony by filling balloons with wildflower seeds and, while holding them to the ground, bursting the balloons to randomly spread the seeds.

Birches Head Academy hopes this initiative will go beyond just an improvement to the aesthetic of the school. They would like to encourage other schools to follow their lead, while also teaching their students about environmental responsibility.

The ‘Grow It Group’ has gone from strength to strength. “Our weekly gardening group continues to flourish with students, staff, community organisations, parents and grandparents all joining in,” explained Mrs Lawton. “We’re very pleased to see some of our students who have rarely been exposed to the countryside environment, taking such care and interest in cultivating their small plots of land around the school.”

Founded in 2012, the Grow It group grows its own produce on an assigned plot of school land. Vegetables produced by the group have been used in the school cafeteria.

Birches Head Academy also hopes that with the introduction of new wild plants on the school grounds will lead to more wildlife. In turn this will lead to increased group activity and interest from students, families and staff. The assigned plot is next to the school's poly tunnel, used to house plants and flowers.