"When you try to control everything...

..you enjoy nothing"

Anon

The garden has seen a lot of activity over the past two weekends.  On the first weekend in conjunction with the Friend's Summer Fayre the School Jurassic Garden was officially opened and handed over to the pupils who we hope will enjoy it and learn from it.  Dr Phil Sterling was asked to open the garden for us.  Phil was the perfect link between  Dorset County Council, the environment and the natural history which abounds in the garden. Phil's role within the County Council is Coast and Countryside Service Manager and he was well suited for the task. The head teacher Mrs Fiona Daykin  helped Phil with the ribbon cutting celebration.  Once the ribbon had been cut the children shot into the garden like coiled springs eager to see what was within!

Dr Phil Sterling and the Headteacher cutting the ribbon!

Aferwards Phil gave us a masterclass in micro-lepidoptera- his subject, showing us the underside of leaves and the many species of micro-moth eggs and small caterpillars which reside there.  He finished the afternoon with a glorious show of moths which he had trapped the night before from nearby.  These included hawkmoths and other brightly coloured specimens.

A Jurassic Garden scene

Elephant Hawk moths

A week later the garden was host again for the National Garden Scheme which raises money for charity.  The is was our fifth year of opening to the public and we were pleasantly surprised to receive a certificate from Mrs Di Reeds, the publicity and media officer of the Dorset  NGS for our efforts and money raised to date.

The garden volunteers accepting the NGS certificate from Di Reeds( second left)

Visitors enjoying the fine summer weather

Pausing  in the shade of the willow classroom

The grass garden backlit at the end of the afternoon

The moth trap was set the previous evening and visitors were delighted to see many colourful moths.  The best catch was this magnificent  Privet Hawk moth

Privet Hawk moth

Curious skull shape on the thorax

A stunning insect

Swallowtail moth

The Herald

With the pressure off the garden group has been tidying and making good ready for the summer

The runner beans are doing well

The celeriac plants have been trimmed to promote the root

French Beans almost ready for picking!

It is that time of year when we say goodbye to the senior pupils who move on to the next rung of the education ladder.  We wish them well and hope that they have enjoyed their time at Holy Trinity and enjoyed the learning from the garden during their stay.