As our school garden continues to grow, we are reminded of the capacity of gardens to bring community together. They serve as happy, safe and grounding spaces in our busy lives, especially in schools, where children can find different ways to interact and thrive than are possible in the classroom.
Our school garden is a meeting place for students, parents, staff, visiting family members, visitors to the school – including Reham from Roots and Shoots! - and the occasional stray cat. It is a place where roles, responsibilities and levels of expertise are upended and equalized.
One cupboard door in our garden was turned into a chalkboard. Although intended to share messages about the garden, it unexpectedly became an illustration of how our school garden serves as a community hub. By leaving the chalkboard markers out one day, children started leaving messages – you can see some in the gallery above.
