Some reflective themes for the garden:
RE:
- Spiritual feelings & experiences – wonder, joy, praise, sadness
- Reflection, senses & creativity
- Creator God
- Belonging to a community
PSHE:
- Life choices
- Communities
- Contributing to school
Some design ideas:
Wonder:
- Mirrored panels on walls between plants
- Wildflower meadow
- Bug hotel with green roof
- Log pile
- Children make small clay figures to be hidden amongst foliage
- Air-bricks to look through
- Light/dark “tunnel”
Feeling safe:
- Paved courtyard area – for storytelling, lying in warmth and reading, drawing etc.
- Driftwood with “peep-hole”
- “Viewpoint” or false window at end of garden
- Willow arbour – den/safe place
Being part of a community/making a difference:
- Trellis work for weaving grasses, ribbons, paper, long lengths of wool etc
- Rainbow seat or friendship bench
- Water butt & gardening tools for children to water garden
- Annual activity making windchimes/mobiles & planting seeds/bulbs
- Artwork panels mounted on walls or floors representing the school community.
- Weaving shelters
Life choices:
- Bifurcating paths in different materials, with “fresh starts” at meeting points
- Light/dark “tunnel”
- Caring for plants
- Using recycled materials – conservation & fresh starts
Reflection:
- Stack of air-bricks for writing messages/ wishes, dreams etc
- Outdoor whiteboards or blackboard paint & chalks to express selves
- Tibetan prayer flags
- Water feature & wind chimes
- Gravel or sand garden for handprints
- Reflection cards
