Our Horticulture students have been making a real difference in the heart of Newport, working alongside Shaping Newport and the award-winning team at C.A.R. Gardens to refresh and replant the borders in St James’ Square.
This collaborative project has brought together industry professionals, local councils, and our talented students to breathe new life into the space – combining horticultural creativity with hands-on learning.
Reviving a Familiar Space
The borders were originally designed and planted several years ago by Isle of Wight College students under the guidance of Rob Mew – then a member of our teaching staff. Now working for C.A.R. Gardens, Rob returned to redesign the space and support with planting, bringing the project full circle.
We’re proud to say that our current students have stepped up to take on the next phase of this evolving green space.
Supporting the Next Generation
The College played a key role in coordinating our student involvement, working closely with C.A.R. Gardens, Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council, and the Isle of Wight Council to agree how, when, and where students could contribute. As part of their curriculum, our learners have been developing the nursery, propagation and planting skills needed to carry out the work to a professional standard.
While the C.A.R. Gardens team prepared the beds and carried out the groundwork (as shown in some of the images on our website), it was our students who took over for the planting phase. They successfully propagated and nurtured over 100 plants, cared for them over a six-week period, and then replanted the beds following Rob’s new design.
We’ve documented the process and taken plenty of photos along the way – get in touch if you'd like to see more!
A Sustainable Future
This isn’t a one-off effort. We’ve agreed that our Horticulture students will maintain the borders each autumn and spring as part of their seasonal border maintenance unit – a return to the arrangement in place before the pandemic.
We also worked with both councils to ensure additional funding was secured for regular maintenance between our visits, especially over the summer holidays, to ensure the space is well-kept and remains a reflection of the high standards our students are learning to deliver.
As the project moves into its final phase, our students are also contributing to the educational signage around the biodiversity and eco-conscious aspects of the design and planting scheme.
We’re incredibly proud of our students for their dedication and professionalism – and grateful to C.A.R. Gardens, Rob Mew, and our local council partners for supporting a project that not only transforms a key public space, but gives our learners meaningful experience that will serve them well in their careers.
St James’ Square is already looking brighter – and thanks to this joint effort, it will continue to bloom for seasons to come.
