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Post by 4pygmies on Aug 21, 2006 6:07:37 GMT
'Nother new question! I'm about to embark on building a dipping pond in a wildlife garden for a school gardening club for primary age. For H & S reasons as well as practicality I'm having 3 hexagonal raised ponds (lovely web site - if anyone's interested - wooden raised beds, called Hexaponds) of slightly differing heights. I've dug a big hole, filled it with water and thrown some plants in before now but never constructed anything like this before. I've got to be a bit more organised this time so the kids have something to dip for! Anyone an expert out there? Any help would really be appreciated.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2006 12:05:49 GMT
How large are the hexagonal ponds?  |
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Post by 4pygmies on Aug 21, 2006 17:25:19 GMT
Hello Rita, Nice to meet you. The hexagonal ponds are about 5ft in diameter, the largest, and the other two are about 4ft. Our wildlife area is only about 30ft square so we have to leave room around the ponds for paving and a table, and all the other things we want to include (like bird feeders etc). 4P
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2006 21:34:46 GMT
Where are you in Norfolk?
Do the hex ponds come with any sort of liner?
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Post by 4pygmies on Aug 21, 2006 21:55:06 GMT
I'm 10 miles from Thetford on the Kings Lynn road! I can't believe someone on the boards is that close but is soon moving away! It's pretty good round here, isn't it? I love it ( although I did see some orcs in Wisbech once).
Hex ponds come with a liner if you specify that's what you want. They're really good I think. I could post the web address if you'd like (well, try to...)
Your pond looks wonderful by the way. If I built one like that at school I'd be up for sainthood and smallest daughter would get straight A's for life!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2006 13:44:19 GMT
Have you been here 4p? It's just down the road  www.wwt.org.uk/visit/welney/event.asp?EventID=1818they do pond dipping I reckon doing what you have done before should work, that is "digging a hole, filling it with water and throwing in some plants" oh and you could do with some mud from an established pond to help things on their way. You can have some mud from my pond if you like I have some little creatures in there that can only be described as water wood lice - I wonder what the kids would think to them?  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2006 21:57:38 GMT
How are the dipping ponds coming along 4P? |
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 24, 2006 6:58:49 GMT
Morning Rita, Thanks for asking! Well, as usual with committee decisions - progress is slow but we're getting there now. I'm trying to get my head round the calculations for how much sand and cement we need for the base, plus getting a volunteer crew to dig a suitable hole in the middle of the wildlife garden, plus worrying about how to get everything in or out as there are steps....after a slight misunderstanding about invoicing we are expecting the ponds and new greenhouse after half term and then we can really get going. Three of us have painted the school sheds a lovely moss green, a gigantic laurel hedge has been seriously pruned (by me - broke my loppers and had to saw it all off - phew) and now it's just a question of waiting for the flood of volunteers to do all the graft (that'll be the usual suspects plus our OH's - hopefully!). It's all been complicated by our lovely headmistress having the term off as she undergoes radiology but hopefully she's made a full recovery and we don't have to wait for decisions to be made on a list of priorities via the poor overworked secretary.. We have had a satisfying number of parcels delivered with new spades, forks, dipping nets etc now. I shall be posting pictures of progress as soon as there is any and then you'll be deluged with questions about plants, insect life and all pond related topics! Cheers Rita!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2006 7:51:44 GMT
Is it the Governors that are holding you up?  The governors for the primary school here only meet every other month - which slows up the decision making progress Sounds like it is all coming together nicely - I would hope that some of the parents should be eager volunteers - there must surely be at least one parent that knows how to mix cement that can lend a hand  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2006 11:21:58 GMT
Hi 4P, I missed this first time around so am delighted Rita 'resurrected' it. Sounds like a brilliant project and will be great for the kids ;D. But also sounds quite dear - have you been fundraising? Do the local media know about it - that might help raise additional funds if you need them. Wish more people got involved in projects like this - Congratulations!
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 25, 2006 7:01:43 GMT
Morning Rita and CC, Well, I'm confidently expecting the Head of the Governors to be the one in charge of the cement mixer - he's a nice strong man! CC, I got a £5000 (nearly) grant form the Lottery Fund last Spring! It took ages to get the application form filled in as we have several "bodies" to liaise (sp?) with but eventually I got it done and they gave us the full grant. I was high as a kite for days afterwards! We are revamping a large area of the school grounds with the money: making the wildlife area much more interesting for the kids as well as the wildlife, several raised beds with different planting schemes in each one, planting a small orchard, buying a greenhouse and other essential equipment for our designated garden area, making a compost area and making a weather station and science area. Generally making as much of the grounds as possible attractive, useful to wildlife and part of the outdoor teaching resource. I'm planning a "quiet" seating area with a sensory garden at the moment too which is really fun. I have to say it's a bit of a responsibilty so I do get stressed about it all - typical of me to have all these big ideas without thinking about the practicalities but I'll get there in the end I expect! When we've got the basic building stuff done I shall invite the local media to come and give us some publicity as I like the idea of getting the locals to donate plants and/or time. As is often the case there is a small but dedicated group of mothers who are the mainstay of all the extra curricular activities - I'd love to get some others involved, like retired villagers etc. And I'm hoping the preschool group will come and use the greenhouse etc too. We are only a small village school but that makes it even more important that we get our kids to appreciate the wonderful countryside all around us - I was shocked to discover how few families actually grow things, never mind include their children in it all. I'm on a mission! Next year, when it's all up and running, I'm going to invite the Forestry Commision (the vast Thetford forest is 2" away from us) and our local Wildlife Trust to get involved. Actually I'm going to DEMAND that they do (but politely...).
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2006 7:13:43 GMT
Morning 4P - I think what you are doing is marvelous, you deserve a medal  I guess what you are planning has been published in the school's news letter and that it has been put in all the letter boxes in your village asking for volunteers |
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 25, 2006 7:22:44 GMT
Thanks Rita, I dunno about a medal - another pair of hands or a stronger back would be nice....! Newsletters galore have been sent to parents but not much interest apart from the same old helpers. Sad but true. Hopefully when we get the greenhouse and dipping ponds in people will show more interest. It's a good idea about spreading my net wider but I think I shall post on the Notice Board - it's quite a big village!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2006 9:50:05 GMT
Congratulations on what you've achieved, especially since I imagine you end up doing the lion's share of the work yourself! It's a real investment in the future - kids at your school will probably be among the few in 10 years time who have an idea of where food comes from ;D. Reading about this project has really cheered me up. Incidentally, when you do have the 'basic building stuff' done and invite the local media, send me a PM if you need a dig-out with press releases or anything like that. Brilliant project, 4P! ... cheers ...
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 25, 2006 12:38:10 GMT
Thanks CC. Unfortunately there are all sorts of problems with anything to do with schoolchildren and the press - we are not allowed to show any of our kids doing anything without specific permissions etc. It's so daft - maybe that's why there is so rarely any good news in the papers these days....
You know I think it's pretty stupid that more schools don't do this sort of thing nowadays. It really should be part of the National Curriculum. I can't think of a better way to improve the environment for future generations, get kids healthier and more interested in the food they eat and shoe them into a better greener lifestyle as adults. Instead of selling off all the school grounds they should be turning them into allotments, orchards and flower gardens. I think there are quite a few primary schools now joined up to the various RHS and Garden Organic schemes but it all seems to go wrong at secondary school level (as it does on so many other things in our kids education). P'raps FATBAGS should start a youth section??
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2006 19:07:58 GMT
Well, I guess FATBAGS will have to convince the adults before it starts on the youth! According to a report here recently, in the 1980s 40% of people with gardens grew some kind of vegetables (and they included lettuce and herbs) - now it's 10% and falling  . I wish they had the kind of RHS/Garden Organic schemes you mention here, especially in urban areas. Even if urban schools don't have a lot of land themselves, there's generally a bit of publicly-owned waste land nearby - bits left over from development, railway embankments etc, which are just home to weeds and rubbish. It would be great if these could be handed to local schools to grow vegetables and learn about gardening generally - and it might encourage adults to think about the use they can put their gardens to. Oh dear, I feel a rant coming on ... cheers ... |
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 27, 2006 6:36:41 GMT
Jeeeezus, are those figures correct CC? That is so depressing. Because I am obsessed with growing etc and so is everyone else on the MB's, it's easy to forget that we are actually a minority. I think councils should offer land to schools and provide financial incentives to encourage people by encouraging community gardening projects etc - I also think people who have a veggie patch or allotment should have a rates reduction! I don't suppose either will ever happen. I don't know at what point local government became a business instead of a service but it's wrong! Serving the community is much more important than saving money or "developing" unused ground for profit. No, stop it, no rants at this time of the morning.....
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2006 17:53:01 GMT
Dream on, 4P! There are just four allotment sites in the Greater Dublin area (a couple of which are fighting for their lives in the face of developers), and none at all in the city area! Of course, any bit of publicly-owned spare land is sold for development - not, unfortunately, for social or affordable housing, but all too often for swish 'gated communities' (now isn't that a lovely oxymoron!). A school allotments programme would not only teach kids where food comes from, but also improve their diet and that of their parents - it's frightening to see the number of ready meals people throw into their trolleys. But you would need a critical mass of people prepared to fight for such provision ... and I don't see that happening, at least not yet ... cheers ...
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Post by Babyswan on Nov 15, 2006 17:50:57 GMT
CC, I see this thread now. Yes, there was an allotment up in Clondalkin till recently, Lynch's Lane. A friend of mine had one. CG is getting - or has got a new on in Corkagh Demesne. My friend has been promised one in Bohernabreena. When I was young, there was a family that actively grew stuff in that allotment in the cottages up towards the canal.The woman has died, but the family have a 99 year lease. I offered to approach her son to see if he'd let the Dolphins Barn crowd work the land.That was easily 6 months ago, I still haven't.tut tut. I am proud to say that this organisation www.ecounesco.ie are proactive in a wonderful primary school in the city centre. Click on Environmental Youth Programmes and you see the multicultural garden. About 12 months ago, a friend and I (from DBG) went in with some fruit and veg to do a jamie oliver job with them. It was cool. As an aside, I must contact them because passing the school recently, I noticed the early stages of Japanese Knotweed infestation.Ho hum. Yeah, the 'do' in the seomra spraoi has been well advertised on the DBG mailing list. Maybe I'll go in. Identify yourself to me won't ya!My photos in the Rogue's Gallery. seeyou. C. I'm sure I'll remember something else as soon as I click SEND ! |
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Post by Chuckles on Dec 4, 2006 22:42:13 GMT
Newsletters galore have been sent to parents but not much interest apart from the same old helpers. Sad but true. Hopefully when we get the greenhouse and dipping ponds in people will show more interest. It's a good idea about spreading my net wider but I think I shall post on the Notice Board - it's quite a big village! Any update for us 4P or shouldn't I ask |
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Post by 4pygmies on Dec 5, 2006 3:23:51 GMT
Ask away! We have a greenhouse and dipping ponds....in the school shed in an enormous number of boxes.... We have a friendly builder giving us a quote for the concrete base for the ponds (just in case he's amazingly cheap so we don't HAVE to do it ourselves). I put out a plea for help and have about 10 bits of paper back with the box ticked. That was a surprise as it's not just the usual people too. I just have to hacksaw the old padlock of the wildlife garden so's I can get in to mark out the base. Progress is slow because of the school's hectic Christmas stuff and the fact that my daughter was off school for nearly 3 weeks but I shall be getting things moving again now hopefully. Thanks for asking BB!
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. I wish they had the kind of RHS/Garden Organic schemes you mention here, especially in urban areas. Even if urban schools don't have a lot of land themselves, there's generally a bit of publicly-owned waste land nearby - bits left over from development, railway embankments etc, which are just home to weeds and rubbish. It would be great if these could be handed to local schools to grow vegetables and learn about gardening generally - and it might encourage adults to think about the use they can put their gardens to. Oh dear, I feel a rant coming on ... cheers ...
