The Wimpole Estate joined the Norwich Union Guardianship scheme in September 2001 with their local primary school - Petersfield C of E Primary School in Orwell.  The property and school have long enjoyed a close relationship and the Guardianship scheme has given an opportunity to consolidate and develop this relationship.

The school has made numerous visits throughout the year and the children have worked with great enthusiasm on the tasks allocated to them.

One class collected and planted horse chestnuts. These were re-potted by another class on their visit during the summer term thus giving a nice continuity to the project. We hope that in due course these trees will be able to be planted out in the Park by children from Petersfield School.

A bright frosty day in late autumn saw another class planting bulbs, kindly donated by Unwins Seeds, in the restaurant garden. The flowers were at there best during the Easter holidays so we hope lots of the children (as well as other visitors!) were able to enjoy the display.

Tree planting was done on the Estate on a very cold winter day and pumpkins, squashes and bedding plants were planted in the Walled Garden on a hot summer’s day. We hope that the children brought their families back to visit and see the results of their hard work.

The Education Department have been greatly assisted in the setting up and running of these activities by Philip Whaites, the Head Gardener and other garden staff and by Simon Damant the Forester.

We are pleased that the school are as enthusiastic as us about continuing the Guardianship.