At the end of March, the Group visited the JAGS Botany Garden.
The botany garden has been in existence since 1896, when Lilian Clarke, a botany teacher, created various habitats (sand dunes, shingle beaches, salt marshes, tiny forests). It struck us as pioneering work, far ahead of its time.
The site has been through various phases since then. The current gardener, Sally Rendel, continues to manage the garden in line with Lilian Clarke’s approach and vision, with an emphasis on sustainability. Various experiments are undertaken in the garden by the students, as part of the educational curriculum, for the purpose of shared learning. Sally has worked with classes on historical, literary and D&T themes, as well as science ones. It’s an amazing space in which to learn about nature and sustainability. We were all very impressed.
