Welcome to our Peace Garden

This special project began almost two years ago, when Mrs Watson invited the Year 5 and 6 children to design a garden that would be a place of peaceful reflection and a safe haven for wildlife. From the very beginning, the vision was not only to create a space full of colour and life throughout the year, but also to provide somewhere for quiet reflection and prayer – our very own outdoor prayer space. A place where children and adults alike can sit still, take time to be with God, and be immersed in the beauty of His creation.

The pupils rose to the challenge with creativity and enthusiasm. They:

• Designed the layout of the garden
• Measured the planters to ensure they would be the right height for both children and adults
• Calculated the volume of each planter
• Researched plants that would thrive in planters, provide colour in every season, and attract wildlife

With their plans ready, the wider Paddle community came together to bring the vision to life. Parents, staff, and friends of the school helped build the planters, fill them with soil and manure, and prepare the ground. The PCA made a very generous donation, which allowed us to buy many of the beautiful plants and our friendship bench. Others kindly contributed resources and time – from providing a bird table and feeders, to helping with re-gravelling, signs, and mesh. The current Year 6 school councillors also wrote to local garden centres, who responded with further support.

Every class in the school has played a part in creating the Peace Garden. Pupils have worked hard planting, composting, weeding, painting pebbles, moving stones and bird tables, and of course, watering. It has been a true whole-school effort, with everyone leaving their mark on this special place.

The Peace Garden is also a tribute to Christine Caddy, who gave more than 25 years of dedicated service to Eaglesfield Paddle CE Primary Academy. Chris worked as a Dinner Lady, School Secretary, and finally as our School Business Manager. She was known for her warmth, kindness, and tireless dedication. As former Headteacher Mr Rod Coy said:

“Christine Caddy was just the most wonderful person you could ever wish to meet. Her dedication, kindness and care for everyone shone through in all that she did. Chris was an amazing colleague, always ready to take on new challenges, offer advice, and do whatever was necessary to help make Paddle the outstanding school it is today. Mrs Caddy, as she was known to the children, was the go-to person if you needed anything. She supported three Headteachers during her time at the school. She loved her garden, walking with her dogs and being in the outdoors. Everyone loved Chris.”

For us as a Christian school, the Peace Garden is more than just a beautiful space – it is a place to pause, reflect, and encounter God in the stillness of creation. It reminds us of the words of Jesus: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27).

The Peace Garden now stands as a living legacy – a place of beauty, calm, prayer, and reflection, shaped by our children, our community, and in memory of a much-loved member of the Paddle family.

Welcome to our page dedicated to our new Peace Garden

This project began about two years ago, when Mrs Watson wrote to the Year 5 and 6 children, asking them to design a garden for peaceful reflection and wildlife. A garden that would be full of colour all year round, would stimulate the senses and be a safe haven for wildlife and people. A place to be quiet, and sit, and reflect, and be immersed in nature’s beauty.

The Year 5 and 6 pupils at the time got busy:

• Designing the garden
• Measuring the planters – making sure they would be the right height for all children and adults
• Calculating the volume of each planter
• Researching the type of plants that would grow in planters, plants for all seasons, plants for wildlife

Then we had help from parents, staff and the wider community in the building of the planters and filling these with farm manure and top soil.

The PCA stepped in too, with a very generous donation, which has made it possible to buy all of these wonderful plants and the friendship bench.

Other members of the Paddle community have generously donated resources and time e.g the bird table and feeders, help with putting up signs, mesh, regravelling – the list is endless. The present Year 6 school councillors then wrote to the local garden centres too, asking if they could help us, which they have.

Every class in the school has been involved in the making of this garden – beavering away - planting, composting, weeding, creating painted pebbles, moving enormous stones and bird tables, watering etc.

“Christine Caddy was just the most wonderful person you could ever wish to meet. Her dedication, kindness and care for everyone shone through in all that she did. Chris worked at Paddle for more than 25 years firstly as a Dinner Lady and then as School Secretary and finally as the School Business Manager. She was an amazing colleague always ready to take on new challenges, offer advice and do whatever was necessary to help make Paddle the outstanding school it is today. Mrs Caddy, as she was known to the children was the go-to person if you needed anything. She supported three Headteachers during her time at the school.  She loved her garden, walking with her dogs and being in the outdoors. Everyone loved Chris. “- The words from our previous HeadTeacher, Mr Rod Coy.