The Anniversary Orchard and Meadow project at St Mary’s School

In September 2023, our school celebrated its 150th anniversary. As part of this historic milestone, we wanted to create a legacy project for our school community for the next 150 years. In recognition of climate change and the loss of biodiversity, we decided to develop the Rectory Meadow green space at the back of the school for the benefit of both the children and their future environment. This space is 9200m2 and has been organised into two areas. The first is a large playing field for our children to enjoy during playtimes, PE lessons and after-school clubs such as football and cricket. This now includes the new Tree Library, an area for children to sit and be shaded by trees during hot weather. The children thoroughly enjoy a quieter area to sit and read or chat with friends.

In the second area, and with the help of Wild Amersham, we have a newly planted heritage orchard of 12 fruit trees including plums, apples and cherries. Underneath the fruit trees the field has been returned to nature, producing a beautiful wildflower meadow. In just three months after we stopped mowing that part of the playing field, over 65 species of native wildflowers had appeared. They attract all sorts of pollinating insects as well as birds and other wildlife; a (harmless) grass snake and fox have been spotted in the meadow, for example! A mown path and benches around the trees allow children and staff to have quiet moments immersed in nature or provide space for nature workshops and teaching sessions. A native hedge surrounds the entire field and provides year-round natural interest to the children, protects them from the weather, and provides shelter and food for wildlife such as birds, insects and small mammals. We are particularly lucky that this site is located on land which, in all probability, was once a chalk grassland meadow. This feature promotes such an abundance of biodiversity that it is often referred to as the ‘equivalent to the European rainforest’.  

This is a project which the School has wanted for a long time. Having an orchard reflects the names of our classes and brings trees directly into the children’s world. It is an amazing resource for us to teach our children about the natural world and the importance of being sustainable. This initiative has been realised with the support of Wild Amersham, part of Sustainable Amersham, and with funding from the Bucks, Berkshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.  

Come and enjoy this space with your child! There are many ways that parents can get involved, from wildlife monitoring, to pruning fruit trees or joining a volunteer session to maintain the hedges or help with the scything. To find out more visit Wild Amersham at

https://sustainableamersham.org/nature-and-biodiversity/ or email wildamersham@sustainableamersham.org.