Oare Primary School has created a beautiful rain garden in a once disused and derelict part of the school site.
The garden has been cleverly designed by gardener Emma Lee and incorporates water collection tanks created from old IBCs, planters from old water troughs, a mini wildflower meadow and a dramatic overhead channel and rain chain which flows with water on rainy days, as well as seating areas for the children to enjoy outdoor lessons from.
The children of Oare School have strong ties with the landscape that surrounds them with a high percentage of the children being from families that directly farm the land. Sustainability and the importance of the natural environment are taught throughout the curriculum at Oare. The new school STEM classroom accesses the rain garden where the children study science inside and out. The garden will enable them to pick and cook the food that they have grown themselves in the new vegetable beds and mini green house.
The rain garden creates a green, fun and educational space to get children and adults thinking about rain water, wildlife and nature. Rain Gardens are focused on slowing the flow of rainwater and allowing water to permeate the soil as opposed going directly to storm drains.
Creating the garden has been about community and creating something together for the benefit of the children and the environment. It really does encapsulate the schools values and the belief that ‘WE CARE’.
The project has been made possible by a dedicated team of parent volunteers, as well as help from local businesses; Stowell Farms, Acorn Builders, White Horse Handy Man and donations from Pewsey Vale Gardening Club. Funding has been gratefully received from The North Wessex Downs Sustainable Development Fund, Wessex Water Foundation Environment Fund and the Wilcot and Huish with Oare Parish Council.
“The fact that a small village school can create such a beautiful garden and achieve such a big transformation in such a short period of time really reflects the wonderful school community that we have at Oare” (Project started in May 2024 completed October 2024)
The Rain Garden was officially opened on Thursday 10th October on an appropriately rainy day by Charlotte Hitchmough (Director Action for the River Kennet). Thanks was given by Michelle Perrett the New Executive Principal of Oare Primary School in front of the children to the community that made it happen.
