Estimated Price

£1,000

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Project Summary

The Gateside Parent Council are seeking support to fund seating, an outdoor bookcase and intergenerational projects to enhance our Community Garden, making it more accessible and welcoming for both the school and local community.

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Project Description

At Gateside Primary School, we believe in fostering a strong connection between our pupils, their environment, and the local community. Two years ago, our pupils took the initiative to create a community garden, installing four raised beds in the field beside the school, just outside the Early Years gate. This space has since become a hub for outdoor learning, where children regularly explore nature, develop their gardening skills, and learn about sustainability.

 

Our next step is to encourage further community Involvement through Intergenerational Projects. We will extend opportunities for children, families, and the wider community to work together in projects connected to reading, sustainability, gardening, and nature. These activities will take place after school and at weekends, encouraging participation from across generations. The aim is to strengthen community ties, provide meaningful, real-world contexts for learning, and create shared spaces where children and adults can learn from one another.

 We are seeking support to fund three key improvements:

1. Picnic Bench Seating – £500

In the original garden design, the children hoped to include seating to encourage families and community members to use and enjoy the garden space. However, due to limited funding, this was not possible at the time.

We are now looking to purchase picnic benches that will:

• Provide comfortable, social seating for families and community members
• Offer a place for everyone to sit during our intergenrational projects or whilst enjoying the garden space and what it has to offer.
• Make the garden a more inviting and functional community space for everyone to enjoy and learn in.

2. Outdoor Book Storage – £400

As part of our Eco Schools initiative, pupils have recently created a "Reading Garden" within the community garden. Currently, they transport books to and from school in boxes, limiting accessibility and creating additional work.

We propose to install a secure, weatherproof outdoor bookcase that will:

• Encourage a love of reading outdoors, for both children and adults
• Provide permanent, accessible book storage
• Enhance literacy opportunities in a natural, relaxing environment involving local community members and families.

3. Refreshments for After School and Weekend Groups £100 To encourage participation and make our community activities more welcoming, we plan to:

• Purchase flasks for tea/coffee as well as reusable outdoor cups and mugs.
• Provide a selection of tea, coffee, juice, biscuits and cakes during sessions.

This upgrade will help create a warm, social atmosphere, encouraging even greater use of the garden by both the school and local residents. By making gatherings more enjoyable, we will strengthen community ties and ensure outdoor learning feels enjoyable, meaningful, and fun.

Total Cost: £1,000

We are seeking £1,000 to help bring these enhancements to life.

Impact:

These improvements will:

• Encourage more families and residents to engage with the garden
• Support sustainable outdoor learning for all pupils
• Foster intergenerational community connections
• Make the garden a more inclusive, accessible, and enjoyable space for all

We hope you will consider supporting Gateside Primary pupils in their efforts to create a more welcoming and inspiring community garden for everyone.