Bursar's Bulletin, Summer Term 2023

BURSAR’S BULLETIN

Welcome to a new term. The transition between Lent and Summer terms is often remarkable. Parents probably see the changes the most – as they collect their boys at the end of Lent term, the crocuses fading and the daffodils on Chestnut Avenue coming into their prime, but, as they return for the Summer term drop off, the chestnuts have taken over signalling the summer to come. For me, that first glimpse of Bigside, ready for the cricket season ahead, is always a special one.

To those of us at work over Easter, getting things ready, the seasonal changes can be more gradual, but returning straight after Easter, there is a contrast nonetheless and I hope a lifting of the spirits as we gear up for the final term of the school year, and, for one fifth of our cohort, the final term of a school career, before they head to pastures new.

This is the twentieth edition of the Bursar’s Bulletin, and it is packed full of information as ever. About the past, with a fascinating article on Radley’s Changing Landscape. About the present – showcasing so much that is happening. And also with glimpses of the future, including a roundup of the summer of music ahead. Do read the section on the Bursar’s Bulletin at 20 as that also shows how much has changed since our first edition, and the importance of staff feedback in helping inform change. I wish you all a successful term,

The Commercial Enterprises Team of Les Newell, Caitlin Baker and Emily Noel-D’Avila report a successful Easter holiday period of external lets.

Join

Team Radley to run the Oxford Town & Gown 10k on Sunday, 14 May 2023!

This fun race takes you through the city centre along closed roads, including a stretch along the River Cherwell with the finishing line in the University Parks. You can either opt for a flat ticket rate of £32 or pay £16 and agree to raise a minimum of £50 for Muscular Dystrophy. In recent years Radley has been represented magnificently by staff, dons and boys so do join us - there’s no pressure to be fast, the run is really inclusive and open to runners of all speeds. Register at: townandgown10k.com/oxford

These included St Hugh’s School’s performances of Matilda (below). The feedback was very postitive: ‘we are extremely grateful for all the preparations you put in place and for making us feel so welcome in your fabulous theatre.’ Ardmore Language School enjoyed what they called a ‘quintessentially British’ experience during their two-week residential school for international students. Oxfordshire Youth Music Theatre performed Godspell at the end of March, and most recently, on Good Friday, the Try Tri Radley Triathlon event attracted over 300 competitors.

It was great to see some current and former College staff taking part, see photo above!

Our historic landscape has only been owned by four families or institutions in more than 1000 years. This millennium of careful, long-term ownership has protected and nurtured it.

The estate was owned by Abingdon Abbey from before the Norman Conquest in 1066. The LIDAR photo from English Heritage (L) shows how much of that medieval landscape can still be seen as shadows under the current fields and pitches.

After the dissolution of Abingdon Abbey in 1538, the estate passed to the crown until it was bought in 1564 by Sir George Stonhouse. The Stonhouse family, and their cousins the Bowyers who inherited it in 1795, owned the land for nearly 330 years. In the 17th century they set up a deer park close to the house. The deer were still here in the 1840s when they were drawn (R) by a pupil of Radley Hall School – the school which preceded us on the site.

Sir John Stonhouse built the Mansion in the 1720s and probably laid out the sweet chestnut avenue (Cheesers) leading from Lodge Hill at the same time. The lines of avenues and the deer park are marked on the earliest accurate map (L), published by John Roques in 1762.

In 1772, Sir William Stonhouse employed Capability Brown to carry out works at a cost of £672.

When Sewell and Singleton first visited Radley Hall in April 1847 to rent it for their new school, this view by Eliza Kent (R) was what they saw. The trees and landscape mattered to the founders of the school – they saw the setting as idyllic; a beautiful place which should remain beautiful.

A Beautiful Place

Sewell and Singleton kept this in mind as they marked out the foundations of their new chapel and dormitory (now F Social) being certain ‘to avoid the large and magnificent trees’.

George Pyne’s painting (R) of 1853 shows Dormitory Clump, one of Brown’s plantings, in place – it was felled because of old age in the 1970s.

In the 1930s, the growth of new building in Abingdon threatened to encroach very close to the school. At the height of the Great Depression, don Vyvyan Hope galvanised Old Radleians to raise the money to buy Cheesers and Peachcroft Farm to create a greenbelt.

In the 1950s and 1960s, don Hugh Cardwell and boys set up a Forestry Group (L), raising trees from seed on site and planting a new avenue of oaks and the arboretum on the golf course.

It’s not just dons who have maintained the landscape. The Pocock family were groundsmen from the 1880s into the 1920s and many will remember the Smithsons, father and son (R), whose 50 years as groundsmen is commemorated in Smithsons’ Fields (Midgets pitches).

Now, sustainability is the key. Replanting ageing avenues and planting a new woodland which will link Little and Large Woods to create a wildlife and biodiversity corridor.

Radley’s Changing Landscape

The latest Radley Archives Zoom Event focussed on our beautiful landscape – how it came to look as it does and the plans for future development and sustainability. You can read a snapshot above or watch the full talk online: youtube.com/@RadleianSociety

Bursary Reception

For many visitors to the College, Sallie Swain is the warm and hospitable presence who puts them at their ease when they first arrive at Radley. Whether it’s a nervous interview candidate, a parent dropping off last-minute kit for their son or a visitor here for a meeting, she can be relied upon to offer a professional and friendly welcome. She tells us what a normal day in a busy school Reception looks like.

My day starts at 8:30 and my first job is checking the visitors for the day ahead. We have been using the Sign In app for four years and require all visitors and contractors to sign in electronically and be accompanied at all times while on site. Part of my role is to ensure this policy is enforced and runs smoothly. I love meeting all the visitors who arrive every day, and particularly enjoy talking to those who have a story to tell or who have travelled far to get here.

There are a number of tasks that I need to complete every day, such as booking rooms, checking the Bursary defibrillator and Epi Pen, booking taxis for visitors and keeping on top of the Bursary’s supply of stationery and milk, tea and coffee. I’m not sure the Bursary could function if tea supplies dipped too low! I order the majority of the stationery for the College, a role I took on when I started this job in order to centralise and streamline the stationery ordering process. I price-match stationery and can sometimes order in bulk for several departments which keeps costs down and reduces waste.

The College is legally responsible for protecting people’s personal information, and sensitive papers must be securely disposed of once they are no longer needed. I regularly communicate with departments to arrange collection of our confidential waste sacks so it can be disposed of as necessary.

I started my role as Bursary Receptionist / Administrator in November 2020, and as well as meeting visitors I have taken on various administrative projects, including helping Accounts with filing and admin, assisting the Admissions team with creating badges for events, and arranging ‘Fit to Fly’ paperwork for the Medical Centre team. Before I joined the Bursary, I worked in the Admissions Department for three years – it is such a busy department and a wonderful team to work with. I still miss working with them, but I stay connected on a regular basis.

Prior to Radley, I worked for five years at Abingdon School – initially in the Admissions department for three years and then at the Prep School, working as the School Secretary and School Nurse. I enjoyed the variety of my role and working with the younger children. I still see some of the Abingdon Prep boys who are now at Radley, although they’re not as small as they once were!

My contract is for ‘Term Time Plus’ which means that I tend to work a couple of days at the end of each term to help with preparing for the new term and tying up loose ends before the holidays. I love the hustle and bustle of the days the boys arrive and

depart, and enjoy helping Bev Jane organise taxis and transport for boys which is a huge job –I’m always impressed at how smoothly it runs due to all Bev’s preparation.

My day ends at 5.00 when I hand over to the Lodge and Security teams. I have a good working relationship with these teams, especially the Weekday Lodge Porters – we work well together and constantly communicate to ensure we know what’s happening throughout the day, especially as they cover 7am to 7pm which means we often need to communicate about upcoming events or expected visitors. The Security team work from 7pm to 7am and the Weekend Lodge Porters cover 7am to 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

When I’m not at work I especially like to spend time with my family, especially since becoming a nanny to my gorgeous grandson Jett. Over Easter I was very lucky to accompany my daughter Robyn on a trip to Seoul, South Korea.

MY radley

Radley’s Coffee Shop is a hub for the community, whether it’s for a chat over a coffee, a lunchtime concert or a post-match hot chocolate, you can expect a warm welcome from Kate Kadziolka, the Coffee Shop’s Supervisor since its opening in 2013. I chatted to Kate over a cappuccino to find out more about what brought her to Radley.

I arrived here a few months before Coffee Shop and Clocktower Court opened. At first I worked as front of house, helping supervise in Hall, Shop and at functions as the finishing touches were being made to the building. It was amazing to be involved in the Coffee Shop right from the start. Before I arrived in the UK I studied economics and finance at university in Poland.

I love travelling so I’d just planned to come to the UK for a couple of years to improve my English. I had worked in some hospitality jobs and was thinking I was ready to go back home to Poland but for some reason my intuition told me to follow up the job advert I saw online. My first impressions of Radley were so positive and I feel Radley has charmed me into staying for all this time. I feel like I’ve found my safety net.

What do you enjoy about your job?

It’s such a privilege to be so central in the life of Radley’s community and to get to know so many different people. As soon as one of my regulars walks through the door I know what drink to make for them. The Coffee Shop is open every day, and is used mainly by boys and staff in the week, but at the weekend parents come in to warm up after a match on Saturday or as a place to relax and catch up on Sunday.

I have to manage the peaks and troughs throughout the day – it can be very busy during Short Break or after a match on a Saturday when parents love to treat their sons. Sunday is a bit more steady and often boys will bring their homework or play chess together.

The Coffee Shop is so bright and open, and I love being next to the Gallery; it’s wonderful to have such a nice working environment at the heart of the campus. I have an opportunity to chat to the boys who I always find polite and kind. It’s lovely to see ORs come back to Radley for a frappé!

I’m a nature-lover so the beautifully maintained grounds are amazing to me, as well as the friendly and welcoming community I’ve found here, particularly my team and my manager who I know I can rely on for support.

What might we find you doing away from work?

My favourite hobby is travelling – I’m lucky as I have the holidays free to indulge this passion! I love hiking and climbing. I lived in a mountainous area of Poland, Zawrat in the Tatra Mountains, and did a lot of serious climbing there, up to 2160m which can be quite dangerous and scary! I love photography and reading, watching musicals and going to art exhibitions. I visited Cuba a little while ago and really got into salsa music and salsa dancing. My next trip is to Iceland to see the Northern Lights – hopefully I will see them this time, as I was disappointed not to during a recent visit to Tromsø.

What have been the highlights of your time here?

I was able to tutor one of the boys a few years ago in Polish after getting to know his mother – she asked me to help him with his Polish grammar. I had done some maths tutoring at school so this was a great experience. One of the dons who left a while back helped me to begin learning Spanish, so I think Radley is a place where you can form these lovely connections with people.

A boy named Leo Constantatos-Best (C/L Social) who left in 2021 used to sit in the Coffee Shop at the same table every day, after lessons with a hot chocolate – to the point that this particular table became reserved for him. He was always drawing something and I wondered what it was. He came to say goodbye when he left and gave me the picture he’d been drawing – it’s a beautiful sketch of the Chapel which he’d been working on while the extension construction was going on. It was so touching – he was a very talented artist and it was a wonderful surprise and reminded me what a special place Radley is.

Are you a coffee lover?

Surprisingly I’m not really! I have a sensitivity to caffeine, but luckily I love the smell of coffee. Our top selling coffee is a flat white – it has two shots of espresso so it gives a kick and taste of coffee but it isn’t too milky. I taught myself coffee art and I love decorating flat whites and making them look special. The secret is shiny frothed milk and lots of practice! On colder days we sell a lot of hot chocolates with marshmallows and on a hot summer’s day I can easily serve 100 frappés.

Can you describe Radley in 3 words?

Charming. Friendly. Beautiful.

Kate Kadziolka, Coffee Shop Supervisor

Staff NEWS

Growing Success

David Perdiguero-Blanco (R), one of our senior gardeners, will soon be leaving us to take up a new challenge at Wadham College in Oxford.

David will initially join Wadham as Deputy Head Gardener before assuming the role of Head Gardener later in the year. David has been at Radley for six years and in that time he has been a valued member of the gardening team. He will be missed by us all and we wish him all the best in this new venture. Don’t be a stranger David!

Mike Ginger, Head Gardener

A Warm Welcome

to staff who have joined us since January 2023:

Peter Bush, Leisure Assistant

Harry Butler, Senior Groundsperson

Esther Canosa-Pereira, Academic Support Teacher

Matias De Sousa Silva, Kitchen Porter

Adam Dobson, Sports Therapist and Rehab Lead

Kirstie Donald, Academic Support Teacher

Martin Doran, Leisure Assistant

James Evans, Leisure Assistant

Megan Forrow, Leisure Assistant

John Gallacher, Caretaker

... and to two new members of the community, Hunter Gray Allen (L) born in February, son of Martine Leach (Housekeeping) and Myles Alexander

Saul (R) born in December, son of Dominic Saul (Teacher of Geography).

Madan Gharti, Kitchen Porter

Maciej Konieczny, Junior Sous Chef

Deborah Lee, Domestic Cleaner

Cassandra Mathews, VMT – Guitar

Guy Matthews, Leisure Assistant

Rytis Stanevicius, Senior Sous Chef

Marcin Stefanski, Domestic Cleaner

Dara Walsh, IT Helpdesk / Support Operative

Kimberley Ward, Domestic Cleaner

Brian Whittington, Domestic Cleaner

The Bursar’s Bulletin at

The first edition of the Bursar’s Bulletin was published in December 2017 in response to the Staff Question Time held earlier that term. With the help of Ali Goodfellow, Events Manager until September 2019, the answers to questions were accompanied by information on many aspects of the College, from details of new building projects to invitations to upcoming College events.

This is the twentieth edition of the Bursar’s Bulletin, and I hope it fulfills the aim of being an informative and engaging internal newsletter which keeps staff updated on College news while highlighting the interesting and diverse community we are all a part of.

We thought we would look back at that first edition five years ago to see what issues were of concern then, what has changed and what challenges we are still yet to conquer!

STAFF COMMUNICATIONS

The first edition of the Bursar’s Bulletin was part of the Bursar’s commitment to improve communication across the College, but particularly with Operational staff. Twenty issues later, the intention remains the same. The Bursar’s Bulletin is published termly, with an additional e-Bulletin every half term highlighting articles from the Staff Noticeboard SharePoint site. Events that are open to all are publicised via email and through posters around the campus, with the aim of encouraging staff members to attend.

HOLIDAY MEALS FOR STAFF

Several questions relating to food were answered in the first Bursar’s Bulletin, including the desire for staff lunches to be provided in Hall during the holidays. While this was not possible, due to the complex logistical arrangements for the Catering team during the holidays, the Bursar did commit to serving good value hot and cold food in Shop during the holidays. This has been impossible to continue since Covid and with the creation of the new Shop building, and the emphasis has been on ensuring we can deliver a lunchtime Shop service for boys during term time. However, now this is up and running, we can consider again how Shop can be used over the holiday periods, balancing the needs of staff (including our Catering staff), our commercial clients and rolling maintenance programmes. While no change will be possible this summer, we will be consulting on the future, so do let us know your thoughts.

UNIFORMS FOR HOUSEKEEPING

In response to questions raised in the Staff Question Time in October 2017, the Bursar commited to canvass opinion within the Housekeeping department and to look into the feasibility of a Housekeeping uniform.

Five years on and the Housekeeping team have branded t-shirts and fleeces, with the Laundry team sporting these bright and vibrant pink t-shirts, helping to build a sense of shared team spirit.

BUILDING WORKS

It’s hard to believe that in the December 2017 edition of the Bursar’s Bulletin it was announced that planning permission had just been given for the refurbishment and extension of the Science Block. L Social and the Chapel extension were just a glimpse on the horizon, and work was just finishing on the new Strength & Conditioning Centre.

Staff asked to be given the opportunity to be involved in the planning of building renovations when they are familiar with the area concerned. The Bursar commited to improving consultation with staff and David Anderson now provides regular updates on plans at staff meetings and, more informally, in meetings with groups of staff. We also make more use of the Bursar’s Bulletin to provide updates on forthcoming projects. The team is always open to discussion with staff about coming plans, so if you want to know more about anything, please do ask.

KEEP SUBMITTING YOUR QUESTIONS!

SIGN-IN SYSTEM

The subject of security was raised at the October 2017 meeting, with calls for the introduction of an electronic sign-in system and CCTV cameras at the entrances and exits to the College.

Fast forward five years and we now have the Sign In App and the Access to College Premises policy, visitors’ and contractors’ badges and additional campus CCTV overseen by Lodge Porters and the Security team 24 hours a day. The main gates were installed in summer 2019 and the Lodge was restored to its original function at the entrance to the College in early 2020.

You can ask questions or make suggestions at any time using the online form, available at the QR code to the right. Questions will be answered in the next Bursar’s Bulletin. You can also email ideas@radley.org.uk

A Summer of Music

As we finally see some sunshine emerging, we can look forward to a wonderful Summer of Music. All of these events are free of charge and open to all members of the College community, as well as the wider public, and we would love to see you there.

The visiting recital series continues with some thrilling events – internationallyrenowned piano soloist Yulia Chaplina in the intimacy of the Blue Room; global percussion from Tabla to Jazz with Sandeep Raval; tango-inspired violin from award-winning Dutch violinist Tim Kliphuis; and a rare performance in the UK by the highly respected American organist Nathan Laube in Chapel.

Williams with the College Orchestra); a celebration of music theatre with live band in the Theatre at the Milligan Cup; and the finest of Radley’s pianists competing in the Wharton Piano Prize.

The term ends with a 12-hour Musicathon, with music happening across College from 8am until 8pm. There will be massed string, saxophone and brass ensembles, experimental piano music, jazz, guitar, a performance by the choristers, a massed Come and Sing opportunity, pre-school music workshop, and so much more – with performances by boys, dons and professional musicians. The whole event ends with a James Bond concert at 7pm in Silk Hall.

Yulia Chaplina | Piano Recital

Thur, 20 April, 8pm, Mansion

Wharton Piano Prize | Recital Class

Sun, 23 April, 8pm, Silk Hall

Sandeep Raval | Tabla Performance

Wed 26 April, 8pm, Silk Hall

Concerto Concert | Radley Musicians

Tue 2 May, 8pm, Silk Hall

Warden’s Music | Music for Large Ensemble

Sun 7 May, 6pm, Silk Hall

Milligan Cup | Music Theatre Competition

Sun 14 May, 7pm, Theatre

Tim Kliphuis | Tango Violinist

Thur 18 May, 8pm, Silk Hall

Nathan Laube | Celebrity Organ Recital

Tue 23 May, 8pm, Chapel

Musicathon | 12 Hours of Music at Radley!

Sun 25 June, 8am until 8pm

Radley College pupils take centre stage for some of the highlights of the annual calendar: concerti by Mozart, Villa-Lobos and Lalo in the Concerto Concert; music for Big Band, Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, String Orchestra and more in the Warden’s Music (including a farewell guest concerto performance by Anthony

Keep an eye on the calendar, too, for organ recitals, the percussion prize, singing and piano masterclasses, and much more!

We look forward to seeing you.

Sam Gladstone Precentor

Free tickets can be booked now at: radleymusic.eventbrite.co.uk

MY radley

The longest serving member of Radley’s Gardens team, Kim Rogers has worked here since 1991, initially through the Shaw Trust, a charity which supports people with additional needs to find work. I started by asking him about his arrival at Radley 32 years ago.

The job came through the Shaw Trust and I had to do an initial six week period to see how I got on. A representative from the Shaw Trust would visit me regularly to make sure everything was going well. Now I work directly for Radley College. When I joined there was also an opportunity to work at a garden centre near Oxford that came up at the same time, but the job at Radley was perfect for me and it’s very close to where I live. I did work experience with the Parks & Gardens in Abingdon and I also had a job at Production Tools making items for electric fires before I worked here.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love working outside – apart from the very cold and very hot days it’s one of the things I enjoy most about my job. I find pruning, especially roses and dogwood, really satisfying. I do a bit of everything, including mowing, pruning and weeding, and I learn a lot through watching my colleagues.

Away from work, where might we find you?

I had a very sad year last year, losing my older brother Stephen, so it helps that I like my job and have a good team around me, but I try to keep myself occupied outside work. I like music – 60s, classical, brass bands, rock. My dad was a collector of records so I learnt a lot from him and I’ve still got a lot of his old equipment from the 60s and 70s. Of course I’m a fan of The Deadbeat Apostles. Mike Ginger (Head Gardener) invited me to a gig at The Isis pub in Oxford – I got completely lost finding it but it was worth it, it was a great evening.

I like trains too – in 1981 I had a footplate ride on Evening Star, the last steam locomotive to be built by British Rail. We went from Didcot station – I remember having to sign a waiver form in case the train blew up, and I thought ‘what better way to go?’. My other passions are watches, aftershave and whisky! I collect

whisky and like getting hold of rare bottles, but I like to enjoy them, not just keep them on a shelf. And of course, I try to keep on top of my garden at home.

What’s changed in your time here?

Pete Turner was my first Head Gardener and I’ve worked for four others since then, including Mike. He’s given me a lot more confidence in gardening. You never stop learning.

My favourite season is autumn, I love the leaves falling although it creates a lot of work! My first job when I arrived at Radley was weeding – I’ve learnt about different weeds over the years, like Herb robert which smells like aniseed and has furry stems and pink flowers. Scraping moss is another job I’ve done over the years and leaf blowing – at least leaf blowing on the cold days keeps you moving.

What’s your favourite part of the campus?

The Mansion – I’ve been down in the JCR but I’d like to go up to the roof one day. I’ve been there at night and it can be a bit spooky. I remember Queen’s Court being built – and I remember the old Barker Gym when it had a corrugated iron roof before it was pulled down and refurbished. Our original Gardens shed was down by the Laundry and when I joined we just had two Westwood tractors and two trailers.

What makes Radley a special place to work?

I’m lucky to have a brilliant boss in Mike, we have a good laugh and he has given me back a lot of my confidence. In the team we have eleven in all and we get on very well, they’ve been very supportive over the last year.

Sarah Ballard was a great help to me a few years ago when she sorted out a tax issue I had, I was so grateful to her.

Would you like to feature in a future My Radley article? Is there someone you would like to hear from?

Email Anna: amth.haynes@radley.org.uk

Kim Rogers, Gardener

It was wonderful to hear of the impact of some of our local partnerships on members of the College community in March’s Operational Staff Meeting. To celebrate this, we have included some of the quotes here from our own staff and those we partner with. To hear the whole conversation, have a listen to the latest of our new Podcast series, ‘Voices of Partnership’. We would love to hear from you if you would like to get involved in any of our partnerships – do email us to find out more: partnerships@radley.org.uk

John Sparks Director of Partnerships

Amanda Stead Deputy Librarian

Amanda’s ten-year-old daughter, Pippa is at Radley Primary School and part of a maths tuition partnership. She receives one-to-one support with her maths, partnering with a Radley Fifth former who helps her with the areas she finds difficult. This consistency of looking forward to seeing the same boy every week and the rapport they have built means that Pippa has found the tuition really effective and fun (partly thanks to a few sweets to help things along!).

Sarah’s nephew Olly is nine and goes to one of our partner schools, Pegasus Primary in Blackbird Leys. Olly is part of Radley’s STEPS programme – academic enrichment for more able children which takes place at Radley every other Saturday morning during term time.

As well as also being part of the regular Wednesday afternoon enrichment programme which sees Radley boys helping out in Pegasus classes, Olly was also one of the children who attended a performance of the pantomime in Oxford last Christmas, thanks to Luca H (H, 6.1) who raised some money to fund the trip – including, most importantly, an ice-cream during the interval.

Olly describes the Radley boys as really kind and patient, and says they always take the time to explain things to him.

Sarah Ballard HR Director

Never underestimate the power of an older child talking to a younger child, or the educational benefit that can have.

They really enjoy waiting for the Radley minibus to arrive every Wednesday afternoon and they know it’s going to be the same boys arriving to interact with the same children.

Headteacher Pegasus Primary School

I hope, Luca, you realise that what you have done today is offer 12 children an opportunity that they might not have ever in their life again.

Impact

Rachel McKeon-Clark PHM, D Social

them is incredible.

Rachel takes ten D Social 6.1s to Orchard Meadow Primary School in Blackbird Leys for the ‘Radley Readers’ programme twice a week.

One of her boys has also worked in Orchard Meadow’s Rashford Unit, for children with additional needs such as autism and ADHD. He found that experience really rewarding, especially learning new things such as Makaton sign language so he could communicate with the children.

Our children started back today and so many asked me if we were starting back enrichment tomorrow. I love the buzz it brings to the school and your boys have a lot to do with that.

Our new Podcast series ‘Voices of Partnership’ aims to amplify the voices of those we partner alongside and highlight the impact these relationships have on all those involved.

In our first episode, ‘Academic Challenge Accepted’ we joined a group of students from Radley and Fitzharrys School at the start of a five-week programme of academic coaching.

Listen now to Episode 2 ‘Community Impact’ to hear the interviews with Amanda Stead, Sarah Ballard and Rachel McKeon-Clark.

In reponse to feedback following the March 2022 Operational Staff Meeting, we now produce a regular calendar detailing all the partnership activities coming up in the term ahead. The intention is for the calendar to be informative while also acting as an invitation to get involved in upcoming events if you would like. This might be volunteering to drive a minibus, greeting school children when they arrive on campus or supporting a music event as a member of the audience. It might be that a friend, neighbour or family member is involved in one of the activities taking place.

The postcards are available electronically and also in hard copy, so do make sure you look out for them!

The compassion, care and empathy I see the boys developing from working with these small children who have completely different lives to

Headteacher Orchard Meadow Primary School

Q & A What’s next?

We would like to look at organising another similar event soon, and asked members of the GQT audience to choose their preference from a list of potential options and/or suggest something else. You can cast your vote using the QR code below.

It is difficult to find a time to suit everyone but we will endeavour to choose time/s we hope will work for the majority.

ART WORKSHOP

RADLEY’S CHANGING LANDSCAPE

Two of my Cordylines and a palm died this winter – how can I protect these types of plants next year?

This has been a feature nationwide this winter: established, usually hardy plants succumbing to the cold conditions. With Cordylines and other palms we are predominantly trying to protect the crown. Bunch the fronds together and tie with string or use cable ties, cover and secure a clear plastic bag over the fronds and crown and use horticultural fleece or old carpet to wrap around trunk to insulate from the cold. Remove when the cold snap is over.

How often should you water/feed houseplants?

This very much depends on the type of plant and the specific location in which it is kept. Most readily-available feeds will give specific instructions but if the plant is looking yellow and sick then I would apply more feed or change its location.

What flowers can I plant in my garden that are hardy, minimal effort, will keep growing back every year, are pretty and scented?

A huge amount of choice for this but a few of our favourites are Salvias, Agapanthus, Verbena, Lupins and Phlox. Check the Royal Horticultural Society’s website at RHS.org.uk for information.

I have heavy clay soil. Which perennial flowers will cope best with the two extremes of clay soil?

Again, a large amount of choice here, but things like Papaver (poppies), Geums and Begonias do well in clay soil.

Which plants thrive outdoors in a low/minimal sunlight location?

Shrubs are always handy in a situation like this as they have foliar interest as well as flowers. Look at Osmanthus burkwoodii, Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’, Daphne, Choisya ternata, Deutzia and Mahonia.

The grass on our exposed front lawn was burned away last summer and has come back as weeds. Do I have to dig up the whole area and start again?

No, this should be fine to renovate. Purchase a granular lawn weed and feed online or from a garden centre. Apply this as per instructions. Once the weed and feed has done its job you can then scarify the lawn using a scarifyer or wire rake and prepare the bare areas for seeding. Create seed drills using a wire rake and sow grass seed into these, making sure that the seed has contact with soil. Dress with topsoil, feed and water regularly and keep off the area until the seed establishes.

My apple trees have been attacked by aphids which seem to be living under the bark causing it to look mis-shapen. Is there anything I can do about it?

Horticultural soft soap, Clear or Provado can be purchased and used by amateur gardeners. Follow instructions on the packaging.

RADLEY ZOO

It was great to see many members of staff in attendance for Radley’s answer to Gardeners’ Question Time at the end of last term.

Introduced by Kyle Willis-Stovold, who is leading on the ‘Education’ strand of the College’s Sustainability strategy, Head Gardener Mike Ginger took us through some of the recent planting around Radley’s campus. Mike then joined Senior Gardeners David Perdiguero-Blanco and Ryan Yates to answer questions from the floor.

Planting at Radley

Dry River Bed

A challenging and exposed north-facing site that is hot and dry in the summer and battered by cold winds coming across the pitches in the winter. The dry river bed design symbolises the problems we are likely to face in the future with access to water. We are therefore trying to use drought-tolerant species to produce a sustainable planting plan with minimal water usage. We are creating our own data to see which plant choices adapt best to the swings in conditions, so expect to see changes here in the future.

Kitchen Bed

Designed by Ryan Yates, this is a stylised allotment using perennial sweetpea and honeysuckle. A creeping thyme path which runs between cordons of raspberry, blackberry, strawberry and goji berry. Lavender, cotton lavender and curry plants surround salvias and camellias, combining with sage, thyme and other herbs to create scents and bursts of colour all year round. Grasses have been used to create the feeling of wheat and barley.

Burnet Garden

Like all herbaceous borders, the Burnet requires some attention every 3 - 5 years and this winter we have removed all plants, the bed has been fed and dug over, amelioration of compost into the soil structure and the border e-designed and re-planted. Some plants have been divided and split to create movement. Other plants have been thinned out and some new plants added. It will take a couple of years to look its best again but work needed to be done as the area was looking leggy and tired.

Paton’s Quad

Another cold and windy area during winter, and very hot and dry in the Summer. We lost a lot of plants from Paton’s Quad last year due to aphid attacks in the spring, heat damage through the summer and frost damage through the winter. We have thinned out the planting schemes and used chamaerops humilis and Phoenix roebelenii as the main key plants with Citrinus, Dwarf Mahonia and Edgworthia crysantha as the link plants. Rose displays will provide scent and colour. As in the Burnet we have installed a bluetooth watering system so we can irrigate during the night to maximise our water usage in hotter conditions.

at the Countryside Centre

Spring is always such an exciting and busy time at the Countryside Centre and this year is no exception. We have 14 newborn lambs at the time of writing, some of whom have even been helped in their delivery by members of our partnerships schools and organisations. We were really delighted to be able to welcome children from Radley Primary School for a visit before Easter and asked them to name one of our new black lambs, who they aptly christened Midnight!

Away from the lambing pens, we have a new litter of five Beagle pups and a lovely new addition to the Centre in the shape of Hector, our Belgian Black Hare. Not actually a true hare, but a rabbit with all the features and character of a hare.

We have also just welcomed two pygmy goats and five new Ouessant sheep – this is the smallest breed of sheep in the world, and brilliantly

suited to sheep-handling skills and lessons with younger children.

New fencing has been erected around what will soon become a new orchard with the hope that we can blend fruit production with livestock grazing and enhance biodiversity around the Centre.

As David Anderson mentioned at the Operational Staff Meeting in March, we also have plans for the small pond close to the Countryside Centre to be integrated into the site this summer to maximise the biodiversity in the area as part of our sustainability strategy. We hope to be granted planning permission to build a 2 MW solar farm on land adjacent to Kennington Road and plant 27,000 trees which will link Radley Large Wood, Radley Little Wood and Bagley Wood. Exciting times ahead!

Charlie Herbert, Director Countryside Centre Partnerships

@RadleyFarm

Keep updated on all things Countryside Centre by following us @RadleyFarm on Twitter!

Would you like to come and see the animals yourself? We love to have visitors – of any age! –and you’re very welcome during working hours, including the weekends. Do please call Charlie Herbert (07881 550480) or Tom Wye (07541 570042) beforehand and we’ll help to facilitate wherever possible.