May 2011

Budding Students Garden Grows

Students from Stourbridge College were digging their way to success by taking part in the Malvern Spring Gardening Show. With the help of Construction and Assisted Continuing Education (ACE) students, the college exhibited an Alchemy Garden which will be transferred to the college’s new Art & Design Centre in Brierley Hill.

The Malvern Spring Gardening Show began as a small regional flower show in 1986 and has blossomed to become a joint partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society. The popularity of the event has increased over the years and attracts over 90,000 gardening enthusiasts from all over the country every year.

Gill Coldicott, Head of Foundation Learning, said: “The building of the Alchemy Garden was not only a fantastic opportunity for students to display their skills in construction and horticulture, but to also learn about Alchemy and its four elements. Students left the Malvern Spring Gardening Show with a sense of achievement as they have created a magnificent garden and visitors were impressed with the level of creativity involved.”

The Alchemy Garden was based on the four symbols of alchemy – Fire, Water, Air and Earth, represented by triangular raised beds with coloured wood chippings separating them. The garden incorporated a number of plants and flowers as well as a water feature.

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