Kew Gardens

Yesterday I was lucky enough to be asked to go to Kew Gardens with Year 5 from St. Peter's as a reward for helping around the school.  I was the envy of many because they had load of volunteers for this trip, strangely.  We finally arrived after 3 hours (M25 queued back, so went round the South Circular, had to detour to Sainsbury's at Sydenham for 25 children to go to the toilet, distinct lack of services on the A205!  Put that in your Big Society Dave).

So. we descended from the coach and had a quick march round to the tree top walkway.  Now, not being one for heights I looked up and up (Mrs. Owen the Head Teacher had the right idea "I'll look after the bags down here") and dragged my stiffening legs up the rusty framework that are the steps ("must be corten steel" I kept telling myself).  All of the other children had gone on ahead and I was at the back with a young lad who was taking his time so making my nervousness even more intense!  The view was pretty good for a grey old day and to be able to touch the leaves and trees at that height was quite amazing.

Then it was a quick lunch break before heading to the museum to do a work shop about sustainability of food with Julia (no, sadly not our Julia) and Virginia, and a trip round the Palm House.  It was a great trip and the children behaved themselves very well, a credit to the teachers, and enjoyed learning about plant life.  It was over all too soon but I shall have to head back in the spring or summer to see it in full bloom as I kept dropping behind as I kept looking at the labels on the trees to see what species they were and had to run to catch up!

Now, get the kettle on Willmott!