Over the last two years, it has been stewarded by one of our (now) year eleven students, Charlie. This has allowed him to follow his passion of horticulture and nature, and has inspired him toward his next steps into college and into a career working with plants. We are so proud of Charlie's passion and dedication in his stewardship of this special place and how his enthusiasm has translated into qualifications which will take him forward.

With Charlie being in Year 11, we have invited younger students are to work alongside him in this project and so that the legacy of our school garden will continue, as will the opportunity for further personal development for our cohort. For example, some of our students' horticultural learning has been used as a part of their land-based studies work, contributing to their BTEC qualifications.

The garden also forms a cornerstone in our wider community relationships. Our charity partners Dream Drops, the Rotary Club and Youth for Christ have all been impressed with the enthusiasm of our green-fingered cohort, and consequently have generously contributed to the upkeep and development of the garden by way of donations.

As we write this in September, the garden is wonderful!

Dedicated staff members have ensured it was watered over the summer holidays and so it is a riot of colour and fruitfulness. There are tomatoes, raspberries, pumpkins and apples on the trees. There are the tallest hollyhocks and still the roses continue to bloom as we approach autumn. The lavender is in full force and now there is rosemary and mint too, adding to the sensory impact of the area.

It is a haven for wildlife as we have bird boxes donated by the Environment Agency and we have regular visits from hedgehogs and birds. There is a small pond where tadpoles have grown into frogs.

We use the produce in food tech lessons so that students throughout the school can see how food can be grown, cooked and then enjoyed. Whilst we haven't managed to turn the grapes on the vine into wine.... We have made green-tomato chutney with the plethora of tomatoes this year.

We have learned to take cuttings and to grow things from seed, multiplying our plants with little to no cost. Those same plants were later sold at Enterprise Day, resulting in a tidy profit.

This riotous combination of wildlife, produce, outside space and opportunity is accessible to our entire cohort, all year round.

Its value to our school cannot be overstated. It is a learning space, a safe space for calmness and reflection, and an important part of our school environment; A case study in personal development and student voice, where we have seen a student become invested to the extent that the cultivation of plants and garden management will form his future career.

As we prepare to install a plaque bearing Louise’s name, remembering the garden's original purpose as a memorial space, we cannot help but think she would have been very proud indeed.