There have been several changes in the garden in the last few weeks.

• Following the laying of the new rubber flooring in the chicken area, the chickens now have a new automatic chicken door with a light sensor that locks every night when it gets dark and opens in the morning when it is light. As the days get longer the chickens will appreciate not having to go to bed before the school closes each day. It also means the kind volunteers at the weekend and holidays don't have to come and let the chickens out first thing in the morning. Thank you to the PTFA who helped to fund the purchase.
• It is not the right time of year for planting in the garden so many of the older year groups have been working very hard in gardening lessons continuing to get the garden in optimal shape for new growth in the spring. Year 6 have been working together really well and fruit bushes have been pruned, a rhubarb plant moved to a better location, planters cleared for new spring/summer seeds, strawberry plants thinned, the pond cleared of lots of autumn fallen leaves and the polytunnel cleared of many hard-to-dig-up weeds. A beautiful bush that was unfortunately damaging the polytunnel was also very quickly cleared by some of the students in 6F! 
• Year 2 also made many apple & seed bird feeders that encouraged lots of small birds back into the garden. Between all the great bird feeders and the warmer, sunny period that encouraged the birds back we have seen many more little birds in the garden and around the school than have been seen in months.  

Volunteers (and holiday club) are continuing to do an excellent job of caring for the chickens during holidays and weekends. A particular thank you for Jenny Nicholas (mum of Ted, 3P) who very kindly offered to do some garden work the weekend her family were feeding the chickens. She did some amazing work in the garden including tidying up some of the beds and pruning the raspberry bushes (and her work was the 'end product' example to inspire some of year 6 this week!).

Thank you also to Chilli Favuzza, one of our TAs, for her very welcome donation of new gardening gloves for the pupils.