My potentially great idea!

moneyistooshorttomention

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

nice idea, but as an individual don't think it would be aloud/work, but poss a community enterprise??? BUT again up to school and govenors, plus could the greenhouse area be sectioned off from the school??

Glad you second the suggestions I have already made (posts 7 and 15) re:
- as a community enterprise
- greenhouse area might be able to be sectioned off from the school

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Good thinking there;):rotfl:. Always wise to be one step ahead if possible. The "authorities"/way things are going in Society are always much slower-moving than one or two fleet-footed individuals in these cases.

It was an old don at a local uni. He persuaded everyone else and found the funding. He died not long after it was planted, but saw his dream realised.

Interestingly, in the late 90s and early noughties one of the benefits that followed increased awareness of skin cancer etc was that others took up the crusade to add more trees to the green areas of many schools.

moneyistooshorttomention

That thought hadn't occurred to me - ie extra trees around for people to shelter from the sun under against skin cancer - but its a good one.

My secondary schooling was at a school with lots of trees and I recall sitting under them frequently. Too late in some ways - as I have skin damage (not, thankfully, skin cancer <whew smilie>) from having spent some years earlier in my life living in hot climates as a child:(.

So lots of cosmetic blemish problems - and occasional temporary damage to skin (ie when I get fed-up with NHS' lack of concern and remove them myself...).

lisa110rry

Some really good comments here, I appreciate your thoughts. However, it's drum-roll time!

I have been contacted and asked to attend a meeting tomorrow at 11.10 with the school caretaker and two teachers who are also interested in doing something with the greenhouse.

We are far from "Fort Knox" here, I walk through the school fields every weekend from the river, there is a swimming pool and a sports centre which are open to the public and random kids often play football there. Occasionally when the rugby club is double booked for training, they will train at the school.

None of this means I will get permission, but I was on cloud 9 all yesterday when one of the school's staff who I met on my walk said "I'm glad I've found you, Mrs "X" wants you to telephone her about the greenhouse". And I've noticed all rubbish has been removed from the greenhouse...

davemorton

Well, update please

DaftyDuck

She's too busty, working awa....

(...that's too good a Freudian slip to correct: I'll start again....)

She's too busy, working away in her new Crystal Palace, planting seedlings for the coming season.

But, do update us, please. Hope it's good news.

Charlie Dimmock.... wonder what happened to her?

lisa110rry

Dafty you made me laugh!

It was a great meeting with the Resource Manager (like Facilities Manager) and two lovely young female teachers who were full of enthusiasm but lacking in knowledge.

We have agreed first of all to repair the two broken panes (the school will do this) and tidy up some more (the students will do this after the building is safe from the broken panes). I can have use of the greenhouse (it is gi-normous, 24'x12, possibly more) so long as I support the teachers, help them with lesson plans, and attend when I can in after school club time.

One of the teachers is the science teacher who is attempting to teach photosynthesis on a window sill (for the plants, she's not perched on it) when she could be doing it in the greenhouse. She wants to use the greenhouse in her science lessons.

The other teacher is in charge of a very small group of literacy-challenged youngsters who basically cannot read. She wants to give these kids a boost to their self belief.

I am going to try to adjust my office hours to be able to do an after school club with them.

Our plans include hanging baskets for the school "quad" and salad troughs for this year as we are late starting, but next year the plan is to produce more hanging baskets for the local hospice plant sale which takes place annually in May! We are planning for the future.

I am on cloud nine!

My personal plans include a fig tree and more tomato and cucumber plants than I can fit in my 8'x6' home greenhouse.

I am allowed access to the greenhouse whenever school is out and will continue to water, etc.

lisa110rry

I forgot to add something to my previous post. The school has the sum of £9000 in its budget to demolish the greenhouse, but the act was delayed more than once because they knew if they demolished it, it was gone for good. It's very good to know that they realised what an asset it is!

wallbash

Well done. and many thanks for updating, will admit I had my doubts, but am delighted you proved me wrong.
Maybe common sense actually prevailed.

Floss

Well done!!

OP, have they been able to keep hold of some of that £9k to equip / buy seeds / buy compst / hanging baskets etc?