Getting ready for Spring

As the days get lighter and Spring raises it's head we asked Head Gardener, Brian McHade to give us an update on what his team has been up to across the School grounds.

"Apart from the Saddlers Grove with the planting of the Apple tree (variety ‘Jupiter’). We planted a hornbeam (Carpinus betutus) hedge along the Townley Road fence line opposite the hockey pitches. This consists of 300 plants and it uniquely holds on to its leaves in the winter which dry out and turn brown giving the impression that the plant is dead! (I’ve had a lot of query’s about this… are the twigs dead?)

Also we have planted 100 beech trees (Fagus sylvatica) along the Carlton Avenue fence line (from the memorial garden to the church) to fill in the gaps and replace dead plants.

In the Memorial Garden I have planted 20 roses in memory of Queen Elizabeth II.  The roses I selected were recently bred by David Austen in 2022 and aptly named Elizabeth after our Queen and the plan is to add a plaque to commemorate this.

As we speak we are renovating the pond, a good clean out and a new filter system will be put in as well a collection of fish. It will then be planted up with dogwoods and salix which have colourful winter stems which we hope the art department might make use of.  We'll be adding other plants for visual and habitat diversity, I look forward to updating you in the Spring!"