EDUCATION

The Trust has a strong education policy, implemented by a committee that reports to the Council of Management. Members of the committee meet at least four times a year, and once a year there is a meeting with the Education committees of other County Trusts in the South West Region, to exchange ideas and strategies.

For young people, the Trust welcomes requests from Head teachers and Governors for help with advice, planning, plants and design of school grounds. Many areas of the Primary School Curriculum can be enhanced by the imaginative use of the grounds. For instance, a great deal of the science curriculum can be studied at first hand with the installation of a wild pond. The wall-to-wall asphalt of many school 'playgrounds' is intimidating, noisy and rough. Selected quiet areas for sitting and chatting, away from the football, are very popular. School grounds can be havens for wildlife, particularly in urban areas, and give young people an opportunity to study from first-hand observation.

Schools are encouraged to run after-school garden clubs with help from local adults as well as teachers. Many schools are growing herbs and vegetables to embrace the 'healthy eating' campaign. The Trust produces a twice-yearly Newsletter for schools called 'Grounds for Learning' to spread ideas and good practice. The Trust arranged a day conference at Killerton House (link www.nationaltrust.co.uk) near Exeter, for careers teachers and students to publicise the advantages of Horticulture as a fulfilling career. Experts kindly donated their services. In addition to visits by individual members of the committee, each year members of the Trust make visits as a group to at least one school garden.

As part of their education programme, Devon schools are fortunate to have access at no charge to the Royal Horticultural Society (link www.rhs.org.uk) garden at Rosemoor near Torrington. The Education Officer who leads the school visits and organises activities both on and off site, is a member of the Trust's Education Committee.

The Trust responds to requests for talks to Garden Clubs and other interested bodies, and also has a display stand for flower and garden shows.

Please contact the Trust for details of current activities. 

For members of the Trust, the committee arranges an annual programme of visits to parks and gardens in and around Devon. These are planned to familiarise members with past, present and ultra-modern concepts of garden design and planting. Seminars, workshops conferences and informal meetings organised by the Trust give a wider perspective, and provide opportunities to hear from experts and share information. Each winter a special meeting is held to brighten the cold months. In 2006 the theme was 'The Winter Garden', held at Rosemoor. Next year the theme will be 'The 20^th Century Garden'.