Their garden is well loved

Their hearts broke when they found out that their aloe vera plant had been stomped on.

The young gardeners rushed to clear up the browning remains and planted a new aloe vera plant to take its place.

The love that the pupils at Wellington Primary School have for their herbs and spices garden is obvious.

Among others, peppermint, curry and laksa leaves adorn the garden.

"Our garden focuses on sensory and tactile experiences, and it is unique and different from their usual curriculum," says Miss Lim Wei San, 28, a teacher-in-charge of the school's gardening project.

Says Miss Lim: "The pupils have to plant the herbs and spices, pull out the weeds, and water the plants.

"They also built fencing around the garden so that the lower primary pupils do not accidentally step on the plants."

FLOCKED TO GARDEN

The pupils were so taken with the garden and so many flocked to it that it had to be temporarily cordoned off.

Says Miss Lim: "We need to let the grass grow before the pupils can wander around again."

During this reporter's visit, three Primary 6 pupils picked out several different leaves with ease, clearly familiar with the growing greens.

Primary 6 pupil Yeo Jun Yi says: "It's not tiring at all. We enjoy gardening."

The pupils are not just familiar with the plants. They've also become closely acquainted with the little critters that have taken up residence, such as the grasshopper that has been munching on the sweet basil leaves.

Primary 6 pupil Adam Chavez cheekily adds: "Grasshoppers are like humans - they like to eat sweet things."

His friend, Dannish Bhoy says: "I like to garden with my friends because it brings us closer as friends."

About the project

The SG50 School Gardening Project aims to encourage the development of gardens in primary schools, with $1,000 seed money given to each school by the Singapore Turf Club.

The New Paper, along with Singapore Press Holdings, is the media partner of this SG50 project.

The school gardens will be judged on their concept, maintenance, presence on social media, support from the community and their uses in learning, among other things.

Evaluation will be in July and the top three schools will win $5,000 each.

This article was first published on June 14, 2015.
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