Describe your Edible Playground?
We have large grounds so each year group have their own allotment-sized gardens. We have sited the two Edible Playgrounds raised beds in the Year 1 and foundation garden. They are very visible and accessible here and available for use by the youngest children in the main growing times.

How do you organise growing?
All gardening activities are done as part of lessons. If a class are looking at habitats or healthy diets for example their teacher can build in time in the garden.
Year 3 will be using the raised beds over the winter for their ‘Dig For Victory’ garden as part of their WW2 studies.
 
Who looks after the Edible Playground in the holidays?
Our very helpful caretaker!

What have been your best growing successes?
We had amazing pumpkins last year. They thrived on benign neglect over the summer. We had so many! We used the picture book Pumpkin Soup when we made soup. We carved some and we donated the rest to another school to sell at their school fair, which raised funds for their vegetable garden.
 
What pests are particularly bothersome?
Cats! We have lovely soil and they come in and scratch it up, along with our seedlings.
 
Do you attract wildlife into your Edible Playground?
We had a lot of building work done last year and were aware we needed to redress the balance. We’ve planted trees and just built a wildlife area next to the vegetable plots. We’re growing plants to attract pollinating insects and have built a bug hotel.
 
What do children enjoy most about their Edible Playground?
Being outdoors!
 
How do you fund your Edible Playground?
The school sees it essential so it provides funds for it.

Do you have any help from outside the school with the Edible Playground?
We have fantastic help from parents. They respond to notices and come in either during the school day or on weekend working parties and do the heavy jobs like digging, weeding and the structural work such as the willow den.
Our local DIY stores are also very supportive; they have given us great discounts.

How do you use the produce from the garden?
This has been a bit of an issue for us because at present we don’t have a food prep kitchen. Most food gets eaten raw – as well as drawn and painted! However, next year our kitchen is being updated. We are looking forward to being able to cook with the food and provide the kitchen with vegetables for school meals.