On Thursday last week I had the honour of visiting Broadwater Primary School in Tooting to open their Imagination Garden, a volunteer-led project aimed at creating an exciting and inspirational outdoor learning environment designed to fire the imagination and enhance the curriculum. Featuring vegetable growing, a wormery, a ‘mud pie kitchen’ and a mini volcano, the garden is funded in part by a Big Society grant and in part by the Waitrose Community Matters scheme.
But before cutting the ribbon of doughnuts to open the Imagination Garden, I held an event for the school's two Reception classes and two Year 1 classes, and I joined the pupils and teachers for a 'Queen's Hat' parade around the Garden.
Here are some photos of the day, courtesy of photographer, Emerson Wimsey, and Fritha Lindqvist, Head of PR for Hachette Children's Books. Comments accompany each photo to talk you through my memorable day at the school.
It was a real privilege to be part of such a special day. Thanks, all, for inviting me along and for making me feel so welcome!
I read THE QUEEN'S HAT, PLEASE MR PANDA and the yet-to-be-released, THE QUEEN'S HANDBAG: a story about The Queen and an army of officers chasing a rogue handbag-stealing swan all across the UK, which is due for publication by Hodder Children's in October. (Photo by Emerson Wimsey)
The pupils had lots of questions! (Photo by Emerson Wimsey)
I showed them how to draw a Royal Guard. Here I'm showing them the Snowdonia page in THE QUEEN'S HANDBAG. We spotted the two officers taking a sneaky selfie and lots of other fun details. (Photo by Emerson Wimsey)
Pupils showing me their drawings. (Photo by Emerson Wimsey)
The two Reception classes marched around the playground wearing their especially made hats. (Photo by Emerson Wimsey)
Head Teacher, Ms Susan Adams, gives a speech before handing me the scissors to cut the ribbon of doughnuts. (Photo by Emerson Wimsey)
The entrance to the Imagination Garden.
Inside the garden, Bug Ben!
I added finishing touches to this brilliant painting of Big Ben (based on my illustration in THE QUEEN'S HAT) by Kate Filby: a parent volunteer and mum of one of the children in the Reception year. Kate worked very closely with the two Reception teachers, Ms Louise Bretenny's Reception Zebra Class and Ms Katherine Hilliard's Reception Giraffe Class as well as an army of parent volunteers and volunteers from the local community.
Signing books and chatting with parents and pupils. (Photo by Emerson Wimsey)
A colourful doughnut card and a giant doughnut: a thank you gift from the school!
After the event, the school wrote about their day and pinned their fantastic soldier drawings to the wall. Thanks, Fritha, for sending these photos.
Thanks, all, for such wonderful comments!