Bootham Woodland Trail
After months of tireless planning and work, our new woodland area is now open for everyone to enjoy!
Inspired by the unfortunate but necessary felling of a century-old Ash tree, the project has been designed as sustainably and as sympathetically as possible to serve as a haven for lots of different species. From recycling old wooden play equipment into pathway edging to sourcing traditional plants that will thrive in the shade alongside ferns, hostas and woodland garlic, the space is a tranquil idyll that can be enjoyed all year round.
Estates Development Manager Sophie Morrison explains more about the project:
‘Our Spring Primula bedding plants have been saved from the skip and replanted in the woodland. The wild areas have been sown with woodland wildflower seed.
In order to make the large Ash logs safe, smooth and look stunning, a local chainsaw artist came in to work. Usually found carving benches at Beningbrough Hall, he is a very talented man! We chose to keep the mass of the 4 large pieces rather than hollow them into a bench so that students are able to sit, climb, perch, etc. It also means the wood itself will last longer. The top and side has been smoothed and little seating areas have been hollowed out akin to tractor seats.’
The school community is already making use of the new space! English lessons have taken place nestled on the old Ash tree, and it also hosted Rachael Maskell MP who visited us recently to see our Glastonbury Banner. Our Natural History Society have been itching to explore the space and have been installing it with Hedgehog trackers to gather data on our nocturnal visitors.
Our recent international delegates loved exploring the new space too while they were here for our QED conference. Botanical Artist and Ramallah School Biology teacher Elizabeth Tesdell even held a pop-up botanical drawing class there!
‘This space is so inspiring for all of us,’ she said, ‘for young people to have thriving wild spaces to enjoy is crucial not just for helping them appreciate and take care of our world, but for their mental and emotional wellbeing too. I hope you all have a chance to relax here soon!’
Overlooking this stunning new space is our very own George Fox; or should we say, George the Fox. Carved by local tree surgeons, our new fox carving took 2 days to create! Sophie explains more:
‘We asked the Tree surgeons to leave the tree stump as tall as possible so our chainsaw artist could carve it into a Fox …. George (obviously). What the artist has produced is stunning. If you haven’t had a chance to pop down and see it, it is well worth the trip to the bottom of the field.‘
The long-term vision of this project feeds into the Estates Department’s new strategy across the school’s expansive site. Moving away from using disposable bedding plants which are planted twice a year, they intend to plant the school with suitable perennials which will continue to give over many years. Not only will this save us considerable money in plant costs and labour, it is also environmentally far more desirable and sustainable.
These latest progressions along the field dovetail with the recently reclaimed ground at the boundary wall, new hedge planting, the refurbished cricket pavilion and modified scoreboard.
Together, all this work will will provide the Bootham community with outdoor spaces to enjoy now and long into the future and we are all so grateful to the Estates team for their vision, ingenuity and determination in the face of challenging Yorkshire weather.
Hopefully it will still be serving as a thriving backdrop as Bootham celebrates its Tercentenary!
