School Eco Gardens
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One thing that has inspired Ecospaces the most is the need for more young people, especially within cities to interact physically with the outside environment. Eco gardens are hugely beneficial to learning and physical development of children. Many of the national curriculum core subjects can be taught in Eco garden environments in a practical way which makes learning easy. Subjects such as science, Mathematics and Art can all be directly integrated into outside learning and discovery in a fun and interesting way.
Our Managing Director Paul is a trained Eco schools assessor and can design eco gardens specifically to lead to the prestigious Green Flag Award. We design eco gardens understanding that some students learn differently planning garden spaces that are multifunctional and interactive. Ecospaces won and Architectural Community award in 2014 for our school Eco garden. ‘The Welldon Park Nature Trail’.
Our Managing Director Paul is a trained Eco schools assessor and can design eco gardens specifically to lead to the prestigious Green Flag Award. We design eco gardens understanding that some students learn differently planning garden spaces that are multifunctional and interactive. Ecospaces won and Architectural Community award in 2014 for our school Eco garden. ‘The Welldon Park Nature Trail’.
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Benefits of Eco Gardens in Schools
Raises environmental awareness
A school eco garden if designed correctly can act as miniature representation or microcosm of the natural world. Through interacting with eco gardens Children learn that their actions and decisions have wider environmental consequences encouraging personal responsibility for the environment.
Eco gardens allow students to take ownership over their space and make decisions based on trial and error learning scenarios empowering their confidence. The process of nurturing, feeding, watering and constantly developing and tweaking garden projects gives them a flexible approach to problem solving situations. This kind of learning is very difficult to encourage within the classroom with less academic students thriving in these learning environments.
Eco gardens allow students to take ownership over their space and make decisions based on trial and error learning scenarios empowering their confidence. The process of nurturing, feeding, watering and constantly developing and tweaking garden projects gives them a flexible approach to problem solving situations. This kind of learning is very difficult to encourage within the classroom with less academic students thriving in these learning environments.
Encourages physical exercise
Childhood obesity is slowly becoming recognised as one of the biggest threats to our countries health and well being. For decades our emphasis on promoting competitive sport in schools has helped to keep the majority of children in shape. Modern times however have seen busy parents spending less time cooking themselves with healthy raw ingredients.
Our modern fast diets and sedentary past times are seeing now two thirds of our children above a healthy BMI. Not all students are good at sport but vigorous eco garden activities such as vegetable gardening, landscaping and den making can lead to robust physical fitness in young people. The enjoyable past time of vegetable gardening also promotes healthy habits encouraging a sense of personal achievement harvesting their own organic fresh vegetables.
Our modern fast diets and sedentary past times are seeing now two thirds of our children above a healthy BMI. Not all students are good at sport but vigorous eco garden activities such as vegetable gardening, landscaping and den making can lead to robust physical fitness in young people. The enjoyable past time of vegetable gardening also promotes healthy habits encouraging a sense of personal achievement harvesting their own organic fresh vegetables.
Helps develop hands on skills
It modern education it seems hands on skills have slowly taken a back seat to more academic skills. Many hand skilled professions in the working world are actually very highly paid rewarding careers. It is said that we are facing a crisis in the British construction industry simply not encouraging hands on skills to provide homes and repairs to an ever housing time bomb. Not all children are the same, some are perfectly suited to becoming lawyers and accountants but there are many if not most that have great hand to eye coordination talent. Eco gardens are a fantastic creative introduction to skilled workmanship and the physical arts.
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Enables scientific study of real live organisms
There is no better way to gain enthusiasm for science than to study actual living breathing organisms. The unpredictability of such wonders makes investigation into them challenging and captivating. Children have been shown to learn better with real life examples than from text books. Eco gardens give an overwhelming opportunity to teach science in a way that makes it incredibly exciting.
Provides students with fresh vegetables
Growing vegetables is both fun and educational but its relevance in schools is becoming more important. Now more than ever our population has a severe disconnect with where our food comes from and the importance of fresh fruit and vegetables in our diet. Most people are surprised just how much food can be grown when a sizable plot is allocated to growing school vegetables. A study was done on the top ten healthiest populations in the world who regularly reach 100. It found that one of the factors in their longevity was a diet which contained 90% and above vegetables. It is important to note it takes less surface area to produce vegetables than meat products making it better for us and the environment.
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Provides scenarios for mathematical exercises
Eco gardens give countless opportunities to exercise class based subjects especially mathematics. Calculating surface areas and quantities are some of the practical ways to apply mathematical skills outside.
Scientific monitoring of seasonal changes and counting different species can aid the teaching of fractions, ratios and percentages as well as many mathematical problem solving activities. It has been shown that real life scenarios helps many students understand maths better and makes it a more enjoyable subject.
Scientific monitoring of seasonal changes and counting different species can aid the teaching of fractions, ratios and percentages as well as many mathematical problem solving activities. It has been shown that real life scenarios helps many students understand maths better and makes it a more enjoyable subject.
Increases school biodiversity
For many years school grounds have been rather bland relying on expansive tarmac areas and cut spots pitches. The trouble is this only really facilitates activities such as football and does very little to encourage biodiversity. Biodiversity decline is one of the biggest threats to human kind and actually keeps our local environment fun and interesting. Eco gardens can play host to many different species with varying habitats from wild flower meadows to bog gardens.
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Allows students to have contact with nature
With more and more children living in cities with forms of digital entertainment at our fingertips it is no surprise we have a modern day epidemic in obesity and mental health issues.
Exploring natural environments and experiencing nature has been proven to reduce stress and evoke emotions of joy and contentment. Eco gardens provide calming sensory areas for soul searching and prayer with wildlife habitats rich in plants and insects. Wildlife viewing hides can allow students to focus on one scene for up to one hour which develops concentration and observation skills.
Exploring natural environments and experiencing nature has been proven to reduce stress and evoke emotions of joy and contentment. Eco gardens provide calming sensory areas for soul searching and prayer with wildlife habitats rich in plants and insects. Wildlife viewing hides can allow students to focus on one scene for up to one hour which develops concentration and observation skills.
Reduces stress
There is much evidence and common sense which tells us the natural world is good for us. Being outside in sunlight has been shown to boost our levels of serotonin which help us feel good and melatonin which induces deep sleep.
Sounds and experiences such as trees rustling streams trickling allows us to escape our thoughts, anxieties and live in the present. Our modern day lives have a way of trapping us in an ever circling whirlwind of worries and trauma. It is important that young students are allowed to explore their inner peace with the help of eco gardens.
Sounds and experiences such as trees rustling streams trickling allows us to escape our thoughts, anxieties and live in the present. Our modern day lives have a way of trapping us in an ever circling whirlwind of worries and trauma. It is important that young students are allowed to explore their inner peace with the help of eco gardens.
School inspectors like ecological gardens
With an ever greater awareness of the benefits eco gardens bring to young people in schools it is no surprise it is looked upon favourably by school inspectors. The more vibrant, productive and used a school eco garden is the more it will show how much it benefits its students.
By simply having extra well designed outside space can be a great break from the norm in terms of stimulating learning in schools. Not only can different habitats and natural landscapes be the focus of academic studies outside classrooms and amphitheatres can be incorporated into school garden design. This can give stage to performances, lectures and conventional class room learning outside. The possibilities for school teaching with well designed eco gardens are endless.
Eco Garden design
Ecospaces has 10 years experience in the design of ecological gardens for both schools and private customers. During our initial consultation we analyse your sites opportunities and constraints working out the best outcomes to fulfil your needs and expectations. Are you a school wishing to create an eco garden? We can advise you on how to maximise your surface area for the most effective use of space for your school. We will brain storm with you as well as incorporating your gardens must haves to create the best possible eco garden design.
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If you are a private gardener or commercial developer we can work with you to incorporate some of the best eco garden themes and advise on the best choices for you. From edible planting schemes to wildlife zones to natural play spaces we will help your achieve your landscaping vision.
As well as formulating eco garden designs we can also build and manage your project. If you would like to know more about these services or want to ask us any questions please contact us here.
As well as formulating eco garden designs we can also build and manage your project. If you would like to know more about these services or want to ask us any questions please contact us here.
Further Reading
