This month signifies the one-year anniversary since a committee of Sixth Form students, supported by their Design Technology teachers, commenced the design and construction of a memorial garden in the heart of our school. Throughout the past year, our Memorial Garden Committee have tirelessly worked to transform a disused outdoor space into a tranquil garden of remembrance and reflection, and we immensely proud of their effort!
What has been particularly impressive is the cooperative way in which they have navigated the challenges of utilising various tools and materials, and how they have worked collaboratively to accomplish this as a team. The students have met each week, come rain or shine, at the site, and thus far, they have successfully constructed a fully-lined, horseshoe-shaped raised bed, and a pagoda for climbing plants on a raised edged platform of Cotswold stone gravel.
Although the garden remains a work in progress, we wish to congratulate all the students who have participated in the project so far, for their dedication and hard work. It has been a joy to witness the advancements they have made each week, as they apply their expanding skill set; the transformation to date is truly praiseworthy!
We are eagerly anticipating how this previously ‘unkept’ area will continue to evolve into a flourishing garden in the upcoming months, and we look forward to a visit from local contractors during the October half-term, who will support our committee with the next phase of the project.
We are pleased to share an article, written by Year 13 Media student Toby H, who recently engaged with the committee, to learn more about their plans for the space, whilst hard at work at the site.
‘Sixth Form Helsby’s Memorial Garden Committee are student volunteers and Design & Technology teachers who are assisting with the planning, designing, building & maintenance of this special place. Located in the heart of the school, they are working hard to transform an unused outdoor space into a peaceful sanctuary to improve mental health and remember former students and staff who are sadly no longer with us. When speaking to the student volunteers, I got a true sense of the community spirit and hard work they are putting into the garden. “I’m looking forward to making this a place where people can reflect and remember former friends and teachers,” said one student, “I want it to be a place many people can enjoy” said another Sixth Former.
The project includes designing the garden and the installation of various planting areas and decorative features. The space will be open daily to students and the committee will oversee the preservation of the garden and organise regular garden events, e.g. Arts & Craft afternoons, for community members. Thanks to the generous donations from The Friends of Helsby High School, who are our Parent Teacher Association Group, Marshes Community Benefit Fund, Frodsham Protos Community Benefit Fund and RSK Group, the once “quite abandoned” outdoor space is set to become a thriving memorial space to be enjoyed by the whole community.’- By Toby H, Year 13
