On reflection..... a job well done!

Over the past few weeks we have been working to create a "Reflective Garden Space" at Wakefield Methodist School. After a few final tweeks yesterday the garden is now complete and looking fantastic, if we do say so ourselves!!

The project is a truly joint effort involving the school governors, Pennine Camphill Community College, Hazelwood Conservation and most importantly the pupils (including the School Council and Eco Council) and staff of Wakefield Methodist School.

As well as a quiet place for pupils and staff to sit and reflect, the garden was designed around sustainability with locally made products from locally grown materials; something which we were more than happy to help with!

With the help of pupils we installed a living willow tunnel which leads to the Reflective Garden Space. We also demonstrated willow hurdle making, all of which were made on site with materials cut by ourselves less than 2 miles from the school.

Freshly cut willow - waiting to be "hurdled"!

Hurdling - in the act

Fully hurdled and installed!

We also made rustic gate hurdles with cleft ash arising from management work at a site only a few miles away in Newmillerdam. 

A single oak from our coppice restoration work at Sprotbrough provided material for us to make a rustic arbor and all of the fence posts, as well as a bird bath and a dozen stepping stones which were then carved by students with special educational needs at Pennine Camphill Community College. We even managed to whittle a small bird (we think it's a robin....) from one of the branch forks to top off the arbor.

Name that bird!

The garden also acts as a centenary memorial marking the anniversary of the First World War. A simple wooden cross, backed by our woven hurdles (similar woven materials were often used to shore up trench sides during the conflict) helps students reflect on the significance of the passing of this anniversary.

Other features in the garden include four large solid wood benches, flower beds, a solar powered water feature and a bird feeding station. There's even an "I spy nature" board which should help encourage the ecologists of tomorrow to practice their spotting skills!

Drink up! - Hopefully this simple bird bath will attract in some thirsty birds for young wildlife spotters.

If you are a school, community group or other organisation and would like us to help you with your project then please do get in touch.

Frog frenzy!

Just over 2 years ago we built our own pond here at Hazelwood Conservation HQ. We've had frogs each spring since and this year is certainly no exception. Following the warm weather at the weekend we've had at least 16 frogs tussling and croaking for their mating rights in our little pond.

It took a bit of patience - but after slowly creeping up on the pond we were able to get some great shots of our amphibian visitors.

The common frog is the first UK native amphibian to return to their ponds to start breeding each spring, followed by common toads a few weeks later and then the newt species after that. So whenever we see frogs in our pond, we know that the great crested newt survey season is just around the corner!

We've been busy this past few weeks working on a school garden project involving a living willow tunnel and some of our woodland crafts. We'll be doing a full blog post with photos about this when everything is complete.