The Reverence for Life Garden

In 2004, Reverence for Life UK transformed a piece of derelict land, next to the playground at Wrestlingworth Lower School in Bedfordshire into an award-winning garden.

We raised money to pay for the materials to build the garden and worked with the children on the design. In collaboration with the parents and local community, we dug over the plot and turned it into a garden.

A large, raised bed was constructed for planting vegetables. Apple and pear trees were planted along the wall and a zone for composting was made. A bench was placed in the garden inscribed with a quotation by Albert Schweitzer.

The garden is still used as an outdoor learning space. The children have weekly gardening sessions as part of the curriculum and are involved with all aspects of growing, from seed planting to harvesting.

The garden is embedded in the community. In the summer holidays, the parents organise a watering rota and can pick any ripe fruit and vegetables to take home. Every year, the produce is used to cook vegetable soup and fruit crumble as part of the school’s celebrations for harvest festival.

The Reverence for Life Garden is still thriving today and a successful part of the school community.