They’re growing their own security at Kilmersdon Church of England Primary School. In what’s thought to be the first project of its kind in Somerset they’ve created a security hedge which not only keeps the children safe, it also helps protect and support the environment.
The school wanted to construct something which reflects their vision to care for and manage God’s creation and supports the diocesan wide commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2030. So, they came up with the idea of establishing a hedge along the perimeter of the school instead of putting in a wire fence. Creating the hedge will not only provide security but over time it will also support wildlife such as birds and insects as well as some small mammals. It is at the edge of the school field so doesn’t encroach on the existing area for sport and play.
Head Teacher, Steve Bamford said, ‘The children are really proud of this solution to our need for site security. We are excited about what animals, birds, insects and plants might make their home at Kilmersdon in and around our hedge as it grows, adding to the considerably diverse existing wildlife on site!’
The project is now growing in more ways than one. A gate has been put into the hedge leading to the area of trees behind it, and there are plans to add a path around the side of the field. Ideally the school would like the path to go all the way into a small area in the trees to create an additional space for learning and reflection. The proposed path would also enable pupils with additional needs to access any outdoor learning space easily.
Steve said, ‘We talk about this project and how our hedge is doing in whole school assemblies and use lesson time to explore our field and look out for changes and types of wildlife as part of science. We are marking milestones in the growth of our hedge, encouraging our community to look after it and look out for new life moving in. This leads to thinking about how we help plants grow and thrive and how we and our relationships can grow, flourish and thrive as well.’