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Victorian Garden: Case Study
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Victorian Garden: Case Study
Location: Southwark
Travelling by train through south London you can see towering, high windowed, red brick buildings dominating the rows of terraced houses which surround them.
These are the magnificent board schools, built throughout England in Victorian times. Many were demolished in the late 20th century and a number were saved but converted into ‘loft’ apartments. One of those which remains is the Spa School in the London Borough of Southwark, which specialises in the needs of children with autism.
Their Victorian Garden project was developed to help the school’s pupils appreciate the social, ecological and historical links with their own Victorian school, Southwark Park and the surrounding area.
The children have created a Victorian garden, using plants and techniques which were in use in the era, a time when exploration of the world was bringing new varieties to British gardens. Their plans include a book of Victorian gardening and recipes, working with the local market to sell their produce to raise funds.
The physical work has extra benefits for the young Spa School gardeners as children with autism often find it particularly tricky to carry out tasks such as sweeping, hoeing and bending down to do the weeding. Inspired by the garden project, two of the Spa School pupils have designed a mural of Victorian floral design, influenced by the designer, William Morris, with their own individual interpretation of his work.
The Victorian Garden project has involved a community in the rediscovery of life and times in Southwark when the school was first established, working in partnership with Southwark Council’s Green Team, market stall holders and the local Allotment Association.
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