Garden newsletter – April 2025

Morning all

It’s been a very productive term, students have worked so hard, planting, weeding, watering and making lots of newspaper plant pots.

The greenhouse is full to bursting with pots of tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, chillies, beetroot and rainbow carrots so, fingers crossed, we will have an abundance of produce this year. 

The grape vines have sprung to life so, this year, we may have our own Barton grapes to try.

The garden has certainly come to life these past few weeks, broad beans, sweet peas, garden peas (birds eye of course, ) can be seen climbing their frames and, together with turnips, have taken up residence alongside the winter cabbages.

Our raised beds are now supporting onions, garlic, rainbow radishes, leeks and we are also giving parsnips a try this year.

Our flower bed and planters are beginning to flourish and as we say goodbye to our early spring flowers, they will hopefully be replaced by riots of summer colour.

Looks like our pear tree may give us a good harvest again this year, along with our new fruit trees, apple plum and cherry, they are full of blossom. The strawberry plants are thriving and this year we can harvest our rhubarb, so get practicing your crumble/jam making skills.

Last year students, along with staff, enjoyed harvesting our vegetable seeds and I’m pleased to announce that we are now growing our own BARTON broad beans, sweet peas, and garden peas soon to be followed by BARTON runner and french beans.

Students have planted giant red sunflowers as well as yellow and dwarf ones. This years gardening club/enrichment group have decorated plant pots and planted narcissus for mother’s day. Last week they planted dwarf sunflowers in decorated pots which they took home Friday.

Sammy scarecrow is looking very dapper he’s sporting his new spring look which includes a tie and top hat. I’m sure along with the gnomes he will keep an eye on things during the holidays. 

That’s, about it for now, except to say we now have a lovely new horticulture classroom which will be put to good use in the winter and during bad weather. We have some great display boards already filled but I can always find space on them for any of your gardening pictures.

Hope you all have a great Easter holiday.

Michelle