A Note for County Gardens Trusts on the setting up of a

SCHOOL GROUNDS FORUM

Purpose: To create a forum in which all the diverse organisations in the County that are working with schools in developing their grounds can exchange information and share good practice, and thus work together for the same purpose.

This has been working successfully in Surrey for about six years. The partners contribute voluntarily and meet twice a year, taking it in turns to host the meetings. Minutes are taken and circulated by the host partner. The website was set up under the auspices of the Area Grounds Maintenance Department of Surrey County Council.

Background: The Surrey School Grounds Forum [SSGF] was founded at the instigation of the Surrey Gardens Trust and the Surrey Wildlife Trust. All organisations within the county that assist schools in any way with developing and using their grounds were invited to the initial meeting. Some have drifted away but a constant group of participators continues to make a very worthwhile contribution to the cause.

Aims: At the outset the main aims were agreed -

1.To support schools in making the best use of their external environment:

(i) Provide access to information, using the SSGF website, on organisations within Surrey working with school grounds;

(ii) Provide professional training courses for the school community;

(iii)Provide resources, support and advice to schools;

(iv)Provide information on current good practice and case studies.

2. To maintain close liason with the relevant departments and their agents within Surrey County Council.

3. To establish a mechanism for information exchange between interested parties within the county.

(i) Establish a website and keep it up to date;

(ii) To meet regularly to disseminate, share and record information and ideas.

(iii) To bring in new members/partners as and when necessary.

Members of the SSGF are currently:

Surrey Gardens Trust; Surrey Wildlife Trust; RHS Education Wisley; Painshill Park Education; Gatton Park Education; Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Countryside Ranger Service; Surrey CC Sustainable Development (Eco Schools); Surrey CC Area Grounds Maintenance Consultancy; International Tree Foundation; Surrey CC Countryside Department.

Continuing Professional Development Day, or more simply a teacher training day, is organised annually with varying subjects, demonstrations and examples of best practice. It is very well attended and receives positive feedback. A charge is made to cover the costs involved and partners involved in running it claim back their expenses. The next CPDD will be held in October 2007 at RHS Wisley in the newly built education block adjoining the new Glasshouse.

I would like to recommend that County Gardens Trusts consider setting up a School Grounds Forum as a very worthwhile contact point within their County. Obviously the composition of the forum would vary according to circumstances. It does not require funding to run it, nor involve a large proportion of volunteers time and effort. And it does promote dialogue and achieve results.

Jill Leggatt

Chairman, Surrey GT Schools Committee

e-mail: jill.leggatt@ntlworld.com