Describe your Edible Playground?
In the Key Stage 1 playground, the growing is being done in boxes bought from B&Q. Key Stage 2 have a fenced off area on the grass with raised beds.
 
How do you organise your gardening activities?
I am the science co-ordinator and I’ve taken on the job of involving the whole school in gardening. The younger ones do jobs in the garden as part of their Creative Curriculum sessions on Friday afternoons. They use different aspects of garden work for problem solving or creativity. For the older pupils – I looked through all the topics covered in the science curriculum and highlighted (in green!) for their teachers the opportunities for work in the garden. I also put together a timetable for sowing and growing, so classes know what to do when. Currently most growing is being done in class time though we will be setting up an after school gardening club in the autumn as well.
 
Who looks after the Edible Playground in the holidays?
We have tried to grow stuff which we could harvest before the summer holidays. Our caretaker is around over most of the summer though and waters for us. We’re going to have a push this term to make more of our Edible Playground and want to get some parents involved to help.
 
What pests are particularly bothersome?
Cats have been a big problem. We have had to net the beds to keep them off.
We’re also dealing with slugs of course, although they haven’t destroyed any crops as yet. We have one young pupil who is dropped off at school early and she is quite happy to pick off the slugs and snails before school starts. We don’t harm them as we see them as God’s creatures. Year 1 loved looking at them under a magnifying glass.
 
What do children enjoy most about their Edible Playground?
Harvesting the food! They also really love putting on gloves and using the different tools.
They are really keen on the garden. Often, when we enthusiastically start a project in school the children have forgotten all about it after a few weeks, but they don’t forget about the garden. They are always aware of the jobs that need doing in the garden and what is ready to harvest.

I live in a maisonette and haven’t done much gardening. I am learning a lot myself and really enjoying it.

How do you use the produce from the garden?
We are going for sustainable and eco school status and during Healthy Schools week the kitchen experimented by serving some more unusual vegetables for lunch. The children particularly enjoy the sweet potatoes we have grown, and love the the fact they are growing food themselves. Lots of parents were asking how we’d persuaded them to eat food they wouldn’t even taste at home.

We’re also planning to set up a cookery club to make the most of the garden produce.
 
Do have any tips you'd like to pass on to other schools?
Be really organised! It makes the whole process much easier