Children Reap the Rewards of Our VegFest Food Growing Challenge
Over 80 children from eight Cambridgeshire schools celebrated completing a project of growing, learning and healthy eating at VegFest in a a fun-filled country show-style event on Friday 10 July.
The inter-school food growing competition culminated in a day of celebration featuring games, produce displays and opportunities for pupils to reflect on everything they had achieved throughout the programme.
The VegFest programme encourages children to connect with nature through outdoor learning and physical activity. Alongside developing practical gardening skills, pupils learn about biodiversity, food provenance, harvesting and healthy eating through a variety of hands-on activities and crafts.
By helping children understand where food comes from and encouraging them to grow their own fruit and vegetables, the programme also supports healthier lifestyles and aims to establish positive habits from an early age.
The participating schools were recognised with certificates and prizes celebrating a range of outstanding achievements, including poetry writing, seed packet design and nature pledges. Special guest Deputy Lieutenant Mrs Caroline Bewes presented the awards and congratulated the pupils, teachers and volunteers for their enthusiasm and commitment.
Gardening with Hannah has been the most educational and special experience as the students could witness change and growth every week
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We are putting together a plan to either continue gardening in lesson time to reflect the curriculum or run an afterschool gardening club
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We have grown so much and spark a love for gardening and outdoor learning. Covering and incorporating our learning into all our learning
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The feedback from children completing these sessions say this project had given them a sense of purpose and 100% of them have said they enjoyed being outdoors.
VegFest celebrates the success of a programme that helps schools establish and run their own growing clubs, while inspiring children to continue growing fruit and vegetables long after the project has finished. I am incredibly proud of the commitment and determination shown once again this year by all the participating schools, pupils and their families. A special thank you goes to our host school, Crosshall Junior.
The schools taking part were Crosshall Junior School, Crosshall Infant School, St Mary’s C of E School, Bushmead School, The Round House Primary Academy, Wintringham Primary Academy, Little Paxton Primary School and Priory Junior School, and the programme was sponsored by National Highways.
Hannah Smith, Team Manager (Peterborough and Cambridgeshire) at Groundwork East
Groundwork East is inviting more infant and primary schools across the region to get involved in future VegFest programmes. Support may include Get Growing Packs containing seeds, compost and growing guides, assistance from trained educators to establish school growing clubs, and training for teachers, support staff, parents and volunteers to help programmes continue independently.
For more information about the VegFest programme, or to register your school’s interest, contact Hannah Smith
