Story: Hazel Conduit – Green city Action
Green City Action are celebrating this week after having over 2000 school children visiting the School for Vegetables community allotment site at Grimesthorpe allotments, Burngreave. They have been delivering environmental education activities to local school children since 2011.
The School for Vegetables site provides an opportunity for children to learn about the importance of growing food as well as learning about nature around them.
The School for Vegetables project aims to provide training and support for those wanting to grow their own food.
The project engages with local schools which use the School for Vegetables site, based at Grimesthorpe Allotment, as a learning resource and outdoor classroom for students. The project also assists schools in the creation of their own vegetable gardens.
School for Vegetables works with schools to undertake site visits and educational environmental activities; link growing vegetables with the national curriculum; help fundraise and create growing spaces within the school grounds.
Funding has been secured from the Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food programme.
School feedback:
“The children were provided with very hands-on experience… creating mosaics… collecting water”
“The feedback from the children was very positive’ ‘the activities were very practical and engaging…learned a great deal.”
“We had a very successful afternoon. Children all engaged and happy… One boy said, ‘the best trip I have ever been on!’. The children want to go again.” -Firshill Primary School
“The children learnt what an allotment was and what it is used for. They learnt about what they could grow in their own homes to make them more sustainable. The children learnt about new vegetables… and also got to taste these.”
“The children were also able to see how the allotments manage water in a sustainable and resourceful way.” – St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School
“…input to our assembly was excellentit really added to the theme of ecoschools”.
“The children enjoyed the practical element… taking photos of the process and recording it” -Hucklow Primary School
If you would like further information about the project contact Green City Action on 0114 244 0535