Hedgelaying

Oxford Conservation Volunteers came to Windale last Sunday to give our overgrown hedge some much needed attention. Around fifteen willing helpers (including Mr James!) used hand tools to lay the hedge to make it smaller, denser and neater for years to come. This ancient skill makes hedges a very valuable habitat for wildlife like birds, insects and hedgehogs. Thank you OCV!

Before; overgrown and bare in places.

Adding stakes to hold it in place.

 Although the process involved cutting back many of the trees, they will grow back in one or two years.

The finished result.

Blackberry picking.

Having used most of the available fruit in the school (see Homegrown crumble), Year 5 groups 3 and 4 went blackberry picking in Spindleberry park for their crumbles.

 

Homegrown crumble

Year Five have been making fruit crumbles with fruit picked in the school grounds. We found apples, plums, blackcurrants, redcurrants and elderberries. We realised that we had black, red and white ingredients (Snow White's colours) and used similes to describe them; 'elderberries as black as the night sky!'

Picking elderberries off the stalks.

Lovely ripe plums.

Assembling our crumbles.