Environment Council

Mr Herring writes:

The field of wheat and oats.

One of our garden projects this term has been the creation of a mini field, planted with wheat and oats.  This ‘field’ has been created using a permaculture process.

First, the girls cut away the large shrub that was growing beside the wall, but left the roots.  Instead of digging deep to take out the roots, the area was covered with pieces of old cardboard and then a layer of compost from the school compost heap.  This was topped with a second layer of cardboard and more compost.  The cardboard should be a barrier, preventing the original shrub growing up again.  By not disturbing the ground with deep digging, we have preserved the integrity of the soil.
  

The girls then levelled and raked the area until it was ready for sowing.  They cast the seed and then ‘tickled’ the soil with rakes, to allow the seeds to drop into the soil.  The soil was then gently patted with spades to ensure the seeds had good contact with the earth. 

The wheat appeared after only ten days, but the oats have yet to show any signs.  The crop is intended for the chickens, who have a voracious appetite for things green and tender. 
Channing has achieved the Silver Award in the eco-schools programme, and this year our aim is to gain Green Flag accreditation.  This will mean Channning becomes an eco-school, but there is a great deal to do before we are in a position to apply for the award. 

The vegetable plot

We are delighted to welcome Richard Price.  He comes with a wealth of experience from teaching gardening at Steiner schools in London and Hertfordshire. His knowledge of permaculture will take the vegetable garden in a new direction, creating a productive, diverse and beautiful space. 

Autumn planting

The cabbage is well established, and the Jerusalem artichokes are almost ready. A number of the artichokes will be left standing to give the vetch something to climb up. The vetch will be food for the chickens, and will provide excellent green manure.
We will plant winter purslane, a salad crop, English and Chinese mustard, and lamb's lettuce.  The vegetable plot will be brightened with calendula, a marigold-type flower.
We would like to plant a ‘field’ of wheat to grow a supply of food for the chickens.  As this will take a small section of the flower-bed beside the raised vegetable area, we are still at the planning stage.

Making the new compost heap

One of the first projects introduced by Richard is a compost heap against the wall beside the greenhouse.  This important feature will teach the girls about garden waste and soil quality. Richard’s aim is to close as many loops as possible, and make the garden a coherent, sustainable entity. He is keen to improve the water harvesting too, and the girls will be building the brick bases for two new water butts to catch water from the greenhouse roof. 

The chickens

We packed our chickens off on holiday last July, but unfortunately three of them had an unpleasant and rather conclusive encounter with a fox. Hattie, Belinda and Holly are remembered with affection.
We welcome Chocolate, the plucky survivor, back to the coop, and the two new chickens. Their variety names are Bluebell and Sussex White, but they have not yet been given their own names.

The Channing Eco Code

We are in the process of writing a new eco code. This will be a statement of our environmental values. It will be a pledge for the whole school community to work hard on making the school organisation more sustainable.

This year’s projects

The recycling system needs to be overhauled and re-established in all teaching rooms and staff rooms.
We are going to extend the separation of food waste throughout the school.  At the moment a lot of banana skins and apple cores are ending up in the wrong bins.
We will tackle the problem of plastic cups. Many are being thrown away instead of recycled. We might decide to look again at the possibility of banning the use of plastic cups in favour of re-usable cups and flasks. 
The Sixth Formers are researching renewable technology with a view to suggesting the installation of solar panels. We will recommend the installation of a smart meter so that energy consumption can be monitored and seen by all pupils. 
We will look at improving the natural habit in the school grounds. Sixth Formers are researching the costs of bat and bird boxes with webcams. As well as encouraging wildlife to the area, the cameras will offer opportunities to observe and study whatever takes up residence in N6.