No one could
believe how well the crops had grown
the South of England Agricultural Show Society. We successfully applied to them for a £1,500 grant for equipment such as wheelbarrows, water butts and cold frames. Another generous local firm gave
us a big discount on topsoil and mushroom compost. By the time we had created all 12 beds, the weather was starting to work against us, and it was late March when a local farmer stepped in with a tractor and mini-diggers to help us fill the beds. Once we could get growing,
parents were very kind, providing more seeds, tools and bulbs. As the evenings began to get
lighter, many pupils stayed after school and used their 20 minutes of tutor time three times a week to connect with the earth. By June, every bed was a stunning success. No one could believe just how big and well the crops had grown. A £2,500 donation from a firm of
financial advisors has made the project sustainable for another year. The school is now looking into extra-curricular sessions in horticulture, which could eventually be included in the school curriculum. Tim Thompson, teacher of business and enterprise, Imberhorne School, East Grinstead (1,650 pupils)
‘The children love being able to pick their own snacks’
T
he ground was cold and hard when we started working on the allotment last March. It was incredible to see how it
transformed in just four weeks. Our school had a huge piece of land
that wasn’t being used, and I’d talked to other parents about how we could get the children outdoors more. I thought an allotment would be
the perfect place to teach them where their food comes from, how to grow things and then feel a sense of achievement from doing that. I worked up a proposal and sent it to the school. They loved the idea. We’re in a very rural area, so a lot
of the parents work in agriculture: we have a garden centre owner, a few builders and some landscape gardeners, so there were plenty of people we could call on for help. We put together a list of costs and
materials, but in the end, the only thing we paid for was the fencing to keep the children safe, and we got that at cost price. Local businesses gave us countless donations, including 22 bags of soil and pea grit, membrane, railway sleepers, scaffold boards and a shed. There was a great school community spirit, and some of the grandparents also came on board. It was such a great feeling to hand
it over to the school; we now have a brilliant group of parent volunteers involved and the school uses two of the beds. Recently Year 6 has been learning about World War II, and they’ve been planting vegetables that would have been grown at that time.
12 SPRING 2025 School Fundraising Our Forest School uses the
allotment to teach the children about how things grow and where their food comes from. The produce we grow there is also used in food tech lessons. If pupils are making pizza, they will pick tomatoes for the base or choose peppers and courgettes for a pasta sauce. The children love being able to pick their own snacks, such as strawberries and mini cucumbers. Sometimes, we set up a small store
where the children can sell vegetables for a donation to the school, allowing customers to pay whatever they want. When we have a big harvest, we
hope to provide what the school kitchen needs, helping to save money. I wish every school could have
an allotment; it’s been such a rewarding experience. Claire Munro, deputy chair, St Andrew’s PTFA, Essex (191 pupils)
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