Page 10 - Oxted Local January 2025

10 January 2025 • Oxted Local 
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Wellbeing Garden
Six years ago, a two-acre site at the back of the
science block at Oxted School was earmarked for
transformation: from a wasteland into a Wellbeing
Garden for the students and staff.
It was the vision of Vice Principal Stuart Milne, who
galvanised a group of volunteers from the Friends of
Oxted School (FOXs) to help clear the area.
It wasn’t easy, as the ground was full of rocks,
stubborn weeds and rubbish – having formerly been
used by O-Level agricultural students and chickens.
Some headway was made – then Covid came.
The project was put on hold until a hardy bunch
returned in 2021 with a
renewed sense of purpose.
Steps were built from the
large outbuilding up to
the garden, leading to a
brick centrepiece, around
which paths were laid next
to beds of different plants.
Lawns were established
and trees were introduced
to make a small orchard.
Local company Hamways Ltd, kindly donated
and erected six raised beds - it involved manually
lugging more than thirty heavy sleepers from the
car park up to the garden, plus hundreds of bags of
compost and manure, in the pouring rain!
The hard work paid off and it now means pupils will
be able to enjoy the wonder of growing their own
plants.
A “Monthly Dig” working party has tirelessly kept
the borders neat and the plants watered during the
summer months. The school is now investigating
how to
improve
access to the
garden and
it is hoped
that, one day
they’ll be in
a position
to enter the
garden into
the Oxted One
World Open
Gardens Day.
Most importantly, an area has been created where
children can take a moment of calm and, if they
need to, talk to trained counsellors in the garden’s
counselling cabin.
The devastating suicides of two Oxted teens in 2015
and 2016, lead to the launch of mental health charity
Clockwork - which now uses the facility and offers
support and information to young adults locally and
in the surrounding district.
Mr Milne’s vision is well on the way to completion.
And, after 31 years of teaching, he has now taken
well-earned retirement, leaving this wonderful
legacy for the school community to enjoy.
However, there is still room for improvement! If
you are a local business and would like to sponsor
specific projects in the garden or would like to
volunteer, please contact the school, or you can find
us on Instagram: Wellbeinggarden_oxted
We meet on the first Saturday of every month from
10am until 12noon: tea, biscuits and tools are all
provided!
By Andrea Oxlade