Pictured – Aadya, Mitali, Lennita and Aathmika.

Miss Pearl (Biology Teacher) and Mrs Hooker (Biology Technician)

Horticulture Club is a new initiative set up by the Biology Department at BGS in the Summer Term of this year. Every Thursday, a team of Year 8 students have helped to transform the raised beds in Burnaby Garden into a thriving allotment! The students have learnt how to plant seeds, plug plants and mature plants, how to maintain tomato cordons and strawberry plants, and how to successfully create favourable growing conditions to ensure the healthy, rapid growth of a range of edible plants! We are looking forward to helping the Biology department become more sustainable, such as by growing our own beetroot on site that will be needed for Sixth Form core practicals.

What do our horticulturalists say?!

Lennita (Year 8) said: “I have always had an interest in gardening, but worried about the skill and equipment needed. Luckily the lunchtime horticulture club was a great way to help me develop my gardening skills and knowledge. In the horticulture club, I was able to learn how to take care of  plants, vegetables, and fruits (examples being potatoes and strawberries). Now that I have a decent understanding of gardening, I find it enjoyable and a hobby I want to continue in the future.”

Hannah (Year 8): “When I first joined horticulture club, there weren’t many people there. It has been lovely watching it grow in size over the past few weeks and enjoying the activities with my friends. We have planted strawberries, tomatoes, chillies, peppers, potatoes, beetroot and salad leaves which we hope will be used by kitchen staff next year. It is really important to understand plant biology so that we can spend more time outside, especially in recent times. I have really enjoyed horticulture club this term and I find it a great opportunity to relax!”