Clyst St Mary gardening lessons

MANY youngsters would turn their noses up at the very mention of green vegetables.

But pupils happily tucked into peas straight from the pod grown in their garden at Clyst St Mary Primary School.

Hannah Ebdon, nine, in the wheelbarrow, with friends and parents who help at Clyst St Mary School gardening club GARETH WILLIAMS EE010709_GW05_02
Rachel Slee, 10, with the school scarecrow GARETH WILLIAMS EE010709_GW05_01
From left, Sophie Knott, nine, parent helper Sally Parish, Elle House, seven, and Emily Raybould, eight GARETH WILLIAMS EE010709_GW05_03

The garden, on a patch of land that was previously just grass, has been up and running since the start of the spring term and is now in full bloom.

Green-fingered parents and a member of staff have been running a lunchtime gardening club.

They have been planting, watering and harvesting vegetables, including peas, potatoes, lettuces, runner beans, beetroot and sweetcorn.

There is a mini greenhouse, where tomato plants are grown, and parents and children are also growing pumpkins, which they hope will be ready for the autumn.

A water butt has been set up to collect rain, which is used to water the plants.

The school has also received support from businesses, including B&Q, which gave them £160 towards the garden, and South West Water, which gave the school £60 and a composter.

Local resident Bill Baxter helped youngsters create organic pots from wood and newspaper.

The school has worked closely with Resources for the Future on recycling and composting and the children have taken part in workshops on why it is important to recycle.

Headteacher Louise Herbert said: “Children need to know where their food is coming from.

“It’s important to encourage them to try new things and eat new things.

“Some of the younger children were eating peas straight from the pod.

“If you grow something you are more likely to eat it — and that has an impact on healthy eating.

“The children can also see the vegetables turn into different shapes and sizes.

“In the supermarket, vegetables are such a uniform shape. But the children can see things growing in their natural form.”

Produce grown in the garden will be used in dishes such as potato salad, which it is hoped will be prepared and cooked in school lessons.

Louise said: “It’s been a great project. It’s inspiring the children to eat healthily, see vegetables growing and encouraging them to grow their own.

“It’s been really positive and they have been enthusiastic about it. We’d like to thank B&Q, South West Water and all the parents.

“They have been very supportive getting the children up there at lunchtimes and running the gardening clubs.”