A Greener Melrose has been hosting young people from Earlston High School who are taking their Bronze DofE Award. The S3 pupils volunteer for an hour plus on a Friday afternoon at Drygrange Community Orchard and Plots.
Four pupils completed their three month volunteer placement in April this year. Working through the coldest and wettest months of the year, the students showed amazing enthusiasm and commitment.
They were involved in a wide range of activities, including:
- Creating a dead hedge
- Chopping and stacking wood
- Tree and bird identification
- Fruit tree pruning and mulching
- Sowing Yellow Rattle seeds
- Clearing plots ready for spring planting
- Maintaining and using tools and equipment
- Planting garlic, onions and chillies
The young people told us they enjoyed the sessions, appreciating learning from our experienced volunteers and also the variety of activities. Highlights for them included finding wildlife in the midst of winter such as bugs sheltering in undergrowth, voles and deers munching on fruit tree prunings and an ever present friendly Robin following us around whenever we disturbed the soil.
They hope to use some of their learning when gardening at home from now on and we hope that we’ve “sown some seeds” for the future.
The scheme has proved to be so popular that a second cohort of three pupils started their volunteering in April. We hope that these young people will enjoy their experience as much as we enjoy having them.
“It has been so very nice to meet some young folks at the garden, and hear their views and experiences, and see their enthusiasm and interest”
Please get in touch with Oonagh if you’d like to get involved or to know more [email protected]
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