Flowers are first and foremost part of the ecosystem around us. Plants make a space healthier, but also more attractive and welcoming. Plant fanatics know full well that not every plant is suitable for every room. Some specimens need the right conditions to grow healthily and be pleasing to the eye for a long time. The school space is a perfect example of such a place. There is no obstacle to filling school halls, corridors and other nooks with flowers. It's just a matter of matching the species to the conditions and the people who look after them. Flowers at school are also an excellent way of raising children's environmental awareness.

Plants at school - why is it worthwhile?

Unfortunately, more and more space is being taken up by buildings all around us. Living and learning in urban areas brings with it the need to mitigate the effects of detachment from nature. Limited contact with the natural environment takes a toll on physical fitness, cognitive abilities and the ability to concentrate. Among other things, introducing greenery into kindergartens and schools can easily support the learning process. Pupils spend a large part of their lives at school, and learning is one of the most complex processes that take place in a young person's brain. This places a heavy burden on the young body. Additional challenges in children and young people today include high levels of nervousness, hyperactivity or lack of concentration. Well-arranged greenery in the school space can be a solution to many problems. Key benefits include:
✔️natural air purification
✔️absorption and neutralisation of toxins from paint or furniture
✔️ support and improve cognitive functioning
✔️ relieve stress
✔️ quietening of emotions
✔️ inspiring creative thinking
✔️ teaching empathy aesthetic sensitivity
✔️ enhancing well-being
✔️ beneficial effects on health.

Safe flowers for the nursery

Planting potted flowers together with preschoolers can be a great adventure and at the same time teach responsibility. Direct observation also gives children the opportunity to learn about the development cycle of plants. The list of species that can be placed on a windowsill, a flowerbed or a shelf is quite long. Above all, the safety of the children and the conditions in which the plants will be placed should be taken into account. Flowers for the nursery must meet the right conditions: - no thorns - non-poisonous - neutral aroma - hypoallergenic The recommended plants include: charming and long-blooming saintpaulias (African violets), undemanding herbaceous plants, colourful trifoliate ferns, fairytale ferns, somewhat exotic papyrus, hardy sansevieria (serpentine), air-purifying chamedoras or the peperomine pilee popularly known as 'money'.

Vertical garden at school

An excellent idea for introducing greenery into schools are vertical gardens or green walls. This is a fantastic decoration for e.g. a school lobby, which, apart from its aesthetic value, also influences the quality of air in the school. A living wall filled with plants cleans the air of harmful organic compounds while absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. In addition, the plants in the school have an impact on the maintenance of adequate humidity, which can partially offset the harmful effects of air-conditioning systems on the respiratory tract or the eyes and skin, among others.

Planting plants instead of checking in at the blackboard

More and more schools are placing a strong emphasis on ecological and sustainable learning. It is safe to say that the education system supports ecological learning, a big role for educators in this. Of course, as part of nature lessons, children have to assimilate the required material. However, teachers try to vary the lessons in such a way that they allow pupils to better understand and respect nature. Much credit is due to the teachers who choose teaching methods in nature lessons so that learning does not have to involve only work at the blackboard. Some of the lessons can take place, for example, in the school garden, if the school has space for this. Such lessons can also be held in parks, city squares, housing estate greenery, local forests or botanical gardens. A great idea, increasingly practised by schools, is to organise planting in classrooms. Working freely instead of going through the topics in a predetermined order stimulates young people's imagination and curiosity the most.

Greenery around schools important for towns

Schools, especially those in cities, fulfil an additional, extremely important role. They are an enclave of greenery that enhances the appearance not only of the surroundings of the school, but also of entire neighbourhoods. School gardens also improve the microclimate and water management, provide protection from noise and pollution and, last but not least, provide a habitat for many animals. A school garden is often also a place of social life for local residents.