Spring Flower Show Success for LLDD Students
In September 2009 Sue Hodgson- Jones, the Education Officer from the Three Counties Agricultural Society, came to speak to Learners with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LLDD), based at Herefordshire College of Technology’s Holme Lacy campus about designing a show garden for the Spring Flower Show.
The aim was to design a garden based on the theme ‘Fast Forward to the Future’. The garden needed to reflect the 25th anniversary of the Three Counties Agricultural Society as well as looking forward to the future with sustainability being evident throughout. All of this needed to be achieved in a 6 by 6 metre plot!
The tutors challenged the students to research gardening in 1985 when the Society started, gardening trends in 2010 and to look forward to the future in 2035. Students Natasha West and Ed Halling provided lots of ideas and these along with other student research was passed to Giles a professional designer who drew up a great design incorporating all of the ideas.
In the three ages of the garden the 1985 part reflected key features such as formal planting on annuals, leylandi hedging, crazy paving, a rectangle of lawn edged by a path and regimental vegetable patch with pallet compost heap.
2010 had a water wall continually recycling water, sustainable decking, block pavers, a raised bed made of recyclable material and pots rather than large beds of formal planting.
In 2035 the garden had a futuristic look with a bottle greenhouse like a 'tardis' sitting in the corner and complimented in front by the use of plants from Australasia which were reflecting the changing climate. There was also the introduction of a hydroponic growing system and a living wall, all of which was peat free to meet the legislation to be peat free by 2020. A Solar panel, virtual learning touch screen and shredded tyre path completed the move into the future. Sustainability was considered a priority and wherever possible reclaimed or sustainable materials were used throughout the design. A further key feature was a tactile path made of sustainable or recycled materials which linked the three parts of the garden, this idea was captured following a visit to a garden in France during the LLDD residential visit.
All groups helped to build the garden and were offered the chance to attend and man the stall over the four opening days of the show and during the construction build up. Students and staff spent long hours and weekends at the Showground constructing the garden and turning the plan into reality. As time went on and it got closer to the day, jobs started to be finished and the bare patch of Showground had turned into a beautiful garden, finished the night before judging under the light generated by the headlamps of a car!
On Show day the students were interviewed by the judges and proved to be excellent ambassadors for the college citing all the experiences and learning that had taken place. The judges deemed the garden to be ‘ Highly Commended’ , the highest award given to schools. The garden was filmed and recorded by the Gardeners World team, The Worcester News, Midlands Today, Gardeners Question Time and Radio Hereford and Worcester. Following a visit to the Schools and Colleges garden it was selected by the RHS President to be presented to HRH Princess Anne when she visited on Friday 7th May. The Princess spent time talking to the staff and students about their design and experience of building the garden and in particular Andrew Ellard, a deaf student with non verbal communication for whom his class are raising money toward a hearing dog ( A society that Princess Anne is also President for). She also met Paul Burgess a young man with Down syndrome who had made a scale model of the garden.
On Sunday 9th May the group were informed that the HCT garden had won the Peoples Choice for Show Garden of the Spring Show and a group of students and staff went on stage to be presented with the ‘ floral boot’ (a signed and florally arranged welly!) and £100 of garden vouchers to be used by the College. The students were again presented to the RHS President and the Gardeners World team as well as being filmed live across the show ground.
Team Leader Helen Fox commented, "This for many of the young people was the first time they had created something that they were proud of and that they could value. Students who under normal teaching could be termed challenging showed focus, determination and immense pride and commitment in this project as they had a clear outcome. One of these was Shane Johns who prior to this project openly admitted to the judges that he was considering giving up College but he felt that this was the best thing he had ever done.
It is impossible to quantify the learning that has taken place across the whole of the project but it has enhanced the learning opportunities of all our LLDD 16-25 cohorts and also a number of the part time adult cohorts and has done much to raise the profile of what LLDD learners can achieve when given the opportunity. It has also lead to some work experience opportunities and for the College raised the profile".
