Case Study: An ecology garden at The Cherwell School

Thanks to a £5000 grant from the local Community Infrastructure Levy fund, Wytham Woods has been able to help local schools with planting projects in their school grounds. We are currently working with The Cherwell School, on both of their adjacent sites, and one of their feeder schools, Cutteslowe Primary.

At Cherwell we have worked with the amazing Mr Cappleman who has led and supported students through many eco-initatives over the years. His current group of wonderful 6th formers devised the project and got backing from the Head Teacher, by articulating their case and creating a fantastic tech presentation of their vision.

So far there have been two main phases to the planting. Firstly, in January 2023, a group of 30 enthusiastic year 7s joined the 6th form group and planted around 600 hedge plants along a fence on South Site. The purpose was to hide the less than beautiful new fence recently installed, and to increase wildlife habitats by extending hedgerows.

It was an amazing team effort. The year 7s worked so hard - staying on all afternoon and planting a whole new stretch we hadn’t originally intended for that day. It was nice to overhear chat between the year groups: I heard some of the year 7s ask one of the 6th formers what GCSEs are like and how to choose them. At lunchtime a small group of year 12 volunteers from St Edwards’ school with whom Wytham are doing a separate project, came to help. Some of the year 7s showed them what to do. And one of my favourite moments was seeing the year 7s cleaning the spades - all their own initiative.

Towards the end of the day the 6th formers took the remaining plants and created a new hedge in their own 6th form garden on North Site, to shield future students from the road beyond. This students were remarkable. They completed this project in the midst of revision, exams and university interviews. It was a privilege to get to know them a little through this project. They are leaving a wonderful gift for their school in this new planting.

At the beginning of April 2023 the plants are starting to bud!

Phase 2 was tree planting on North Site. Over a couple of after school sessions we planted about 22 trees - silver birch, rowan, and small leaved lime. The planters this time were year 8s and 9s, once again ably managed by the 6th formers. Some of the trees were pot grown which were fairly easy to plant, but some were bareroot requiring bigger holes which was hard work.

The purpose of the tree planting was to give future students somewhere green and shady to spend their break time. In a future, hotter world this will be vital. We were also hoping to add new habitats on site for wildlife, and to provide nature corridors from adjacent green spaces beyond the school boundary.

We are now planning our next habitat enhancements at Cherwell. With the new GCSE in Natural History on the horizon and a growing awareness of the importance of green spaces for mental and physical health, we hope this is just the beginning.