Since 2022, the area behind Paddock Hall has been transformed from a rubble strewn grass patch into a thriving eco garden – a haven for wildlife. With care and creativity, it is now full of flowers, plants, insects, birds and animals, all of which is encouraging biodiversity in our school. The garden shows how nature can recover when it is given the space and time to do so.
The Sycamore Tree
At the heart of the garden stands a large sycamore tree. Providing shade and shelter, it is home to insects and birds. Its English ivy canopy, far from being a pest, offers nectar for insects and a safe nesting place for birds.
Water Features
Two ponds have been carefully designed to support animals. The Butler Sink Pond, an upcycled kitchen sink from school renovations, is home to frogs and tadpoles. The shallow Wetland Pond enables access from a wide variety of insects and animals.
Recycling
The checkerboard garden has recycled paving slabs and oak flooring from our old boarding houses to create a series of accessible planters. We’ve also recycled furniture to provide raised planting with native, British wild plants being propagated and nurtured.
Potato Patch
Every year we enter The Newport Show’s potato competition in which local schools compete to grow the most potatoes from a starter chit. This year we produced 0.67kg of potatoes!
Thanks to the Telford & Wrekin’s ‘Make a Change’ Award, that we won in 2023, we have a greenhouse and water butt so that we can propagate plants and keep them watered. We also have a compost bin and leaf store, meanwhile a dead log pile provides a habitat for insects and hibernating animals
Visit Us
You are welcome to visit the garden but please help protect our wildlife:
- Stay on the paths;
- Look, don’t touch;
- Leave logs, stones, leaves and plants where they are.
