Our little friends have been having lots of fun gardening and growing in our Nursery Allotment. Back in May, Blaise Nursery Bristol kindly donated us lots of seedlings and herbs to share with our children. We planted lots of yummy fruit and vegetables that the children have been taking care of, and we were rewarded with our first harvest of (very!) early strawberries.
When we garden with our little friends, we give them opportunities to explore their outside world, have pride as they take care of their “baby plants” and most importantly get a bit muddy. As well as visiting the allotment during group time, our vigilant little gardeners have been checking on the plants during free-flow time, thwarting an early swarm of black flies and providing a little bit of extra water from their water play.
Using the Allotment to show children where their food comes from and how it looks whilst it grows is a wonderful experience. As well as increasing their understanding of the world around them, it can encourage children to taste new flavours.
Gardening is also beneficial for our mental health. Being amongst plants and greenery and taking time to appreciate our natural surroundings promotes a feeling of peace and purpose.
Fancy growing some veg?
If our Little Allotment Crew have inspired you, perhaps you would like to visit our Community Allotment. Run by volunteers, it provides an opportunity to get your hands in the mud, connect with nature and help supply our Food Initiatives with fresh produce.
