DR BOYCE, HEAD OF DofE 

The aim of this project is to use the allotments as a volunteering opportunity for the DofE Award. With over 100 girls participating this year, we are eager to create plenty of opportunities for them to volunteer around the school site and complete their volunteering section.

Initially, we plan to use the 2,400 square metres of allotments to grow useful produce for the school, including giant pumpkins for Halloween and sunflowers to brighten the boarding houses and social spaces when the girls return after the summer. We’ll harvest sunflower seeds to use in bird feeders and pair them with apples from the orchard to encourage more wildlife around the site.

Additionally, we aim to plant a grove of Christmas trees that can grow to maturity and be displayed by the Monstros. This will help the school become more self-sufficient, environmentally friendly, and provide a lasting legacy for the girls of the 2040s and beyond.