Self Assembly

Last Wednesday is a day that will remain etched in my memory for many years! Sam, Mandy, Emma and I (Phil Driver, representing Snail Wood), together with Ric Edelmann (Green Light Trust http://www.greenlighttrust.org/) held an assembly at Fordham Primary School to launch the Snail Wood project and plant a celebratory tree.

Ric & I talked to the children about the Green Light Trust, the importance of woodlands, and the plans for Snail Wood. Ric really engaged the pupils with the 'riddle of Ssergorp & Erutan' (can you crack it?) and the history and role of GLT. Much to our embarrassment and the amusement of everyone else, Ric unexpectedly involved Sam and I in a rap with him about caring for the environment. We also launched a logo competition asking the children to draw an official Snail Wood logo - closing date is 12 July and a winner will be presented at the school with a prize in 2 weeks time - so watch this space!

After the assembly a Rowan tree was planted in the school grounds as a symbol of the partnership between Fordham Primary and the Snail Wood project.

The children placed their wishes for the future, written on leaf shaped pieces of paper, beneath the tree. The tree was planted with help from pupils, the Head Teacher Mr. Bullock and Rose Miller (school science coordinator)

This is the first step towards a great partnership between Snail Wood and Fordham Primary and we look forward to many years of planting by the local community.

All-in-all it was a great occasion and having spent a lot of time over the last few years presenting my work to international audiences i feel qualified to say that two hundred 4-11 year-olds are a pretty intimidating crowd!


Picture (L to R, Back: Ric Edelmann, Phil Driver; Front: Rose Miller, Mr. Bullock, Sam Mayoss, Rowan Tree, Mandy O'Donnell and Emma Sutherland)