This week I was invited into Carcroft School by Crew Godley so that they could show me the work they had done on transforming a vacant and underused outdoor space into a beautiful and purposeful eco-garden.

When I arrived it was clear the pupils had prepared to welcome me into their Crew – they were both respectful and really made me feel like I was an honoured guest. I joined their Crew circle and they proceeded to present their eco-garden project to me. The pupils had entered a competition to receive funding to allow them to create the space and they had collaboratively written a beautiful and compelling poem about nature as their submission which is featured below:

From Little Seeds

We start with little seeds in soil,

With muddy hands and hopeful hearts,

A patch of ground, a dream to grow,

A place where something green can start.

We plant our care in every bed,

We learn to wait, to watch, to try,

As roots grow strong beneath our feet,

And leaves reach up into the sky.

Here nature teaches every day,

Through birdsong, breeze, and buzzing bees,

That when we work and grow together,

Small hands can shape big futures, please.

This is our promise, planted deep:

To care, to protect, to help things thrive,

From little seeds in Carcroft’s soil,

A greener world is kept alive.

Crew Godley

They were thrilled to find out that they had been awarded funding and they got straight down to designing and creating the eco-garden. They were clear about the purpose and learning intent of the garden and they talked me through this before they showed me their final product. The stand out moment for me, as pupils presented, was how the culture of Crew shone through. They were reading aloud and the text was quite challenging, packed with subject specific vocabulary. Where some struggled to read others in the Crew supported, encouraged and helped them articulate – it was beautiful to see and hear.

Tommy expertly explained to me how pupils could monitor the environmental impact of the garden using technology to gather data.

The next stop was to tour the garden and it was quite frankly stunning!! Crew Godley had designed and put together the garden thinking really specifically and carefully about how they could attract biodiversity and sustain the environment. They had moved stones, planted and filled watering cans to ensure that the garden had the best start and would be best placed to flourish in the future.

Take a look below at the space before…

And after…

The most important aspect of the work they had done was that it wasn’t just for themselves but for the enjoyment and learning of all young people at the school. They felt a sense of pride that they had created a space that would help others in the future and provide a resource for Learning Expeditions. to come 

Here’s what Crew Godley had to say about how much they had enjoyed the project as well as how challenging and rewarding they found it.

“I enjoyed the planting and seeing the progress and staying after school to fill the ponds – it took us an hour and a half!’

“I enjoyed watering the plants and as it made me look at the detail in them.”

“I enjoyed working hard to move the rocks and getting things done.”

“It will help wildlife have a proper and safe environment for wildlife and it will help everyone in their Learning Expeditions to care for our world.”

Thank you to Mason, Declan, Sharni, Leon, Dylan and Tommy for their incredible work (and Mrs Godley and the rest of the staff involved)!

I can’t think of a better way to link to our curriculum seam of ‘Protecting Our Planet’ the development of our character trait ‘compassion’ and the concept of service learning. 

What a legacy!

Andy Sprakes 01.05.26