A majestic project fit for a king – and wildlife too – created by kids and community!

Wicor Primary School has not only opened its Community Garden for the National Garden Scheme since 2013 but it is also in its 15^th year as an RHS Level 5 school. This means that it has a focus on gardening through the year, gardening with members of its local community and keeping gardening at the heart of its school.

“Throughout this time the school has been involved in, or led, a large number of successful garden and community projects,” explains Louise Moreton, Horticulturalist (and National Garden Scheme volunteer). “Our last community project saw us responding to a plea from our local library in 2021 to breathe life into an unloved stretch of ground in front of the building. But, on Tuesday 4^th June, we took on a much bigger project to ‘green’ Southsea Castle.”

The castle is one of Henry VIII’s fortifications guarding the Solent on Southsea sea front and, with cities being crucial for the survival of many dwindling wildlife species, the new project had planting for wildlife at its heart. The aim is to help meet the need to create nature corridors in urban areas.

“Climate change is at a critical point, and we want to take action to educate a wide audience on how small changes can help make a big difference,” says Louise.

All the plants for the project were grown from seed and cuttings at Wicor Primary School as part of the curriculum, all were sensory plants, and most are edible, giving benefits to visitors to the castle and its cafe. Plants include calendula, chocolate mint, scented pelargoniums, chives, and nasturtiums.

“Children from 6 years old, and community gardeners up to the age of over 85, planted together with staff making history in a castle fit for a king! There were also several educational activities, and pop-ups are being created throughout the year to encourage others to green as many spaces as possible.”

You can be part of this majestic project as surplus plants that were grown for the project will be on sale when Wicor Primary School opens its Community Garden for the National Garden Scheme on  Sunday 23 June. Click here for details

Want to know more? Listen to the Gardeners’ World Magazine podcast on school gardening by clicking here