NATURE-LOVING pupils at a Reading school are aiming to live off the land after receiving £1,000 to create a garden where they can grow their own food.
Brookfields school has a small bungalow in the grounds of Pangbourne Primary School, where teachers want to teach pupils about gardening, harvesting, and cooking food.
A grant fromTesco’s Stronger Starts scheme will help them to do this.
The fund supports charities and organisations making a difference to the lives of children and young people.
The money will give secondary pupils at Brookfields school hands-on experience of essential life skills.
Headteacher Catherine Bernie, said: “We are very grateful to Tesco for this funding.
“We want to use the raised beds and our patio space for planting and growing.
“We’d also like to ensure that the garden is as environmentally friendly as possible, so we want to add a rotary composter and a large water butt.
“There is also quite a lot of lawn space, so we need a mower to keep it looking tidy and well maintained.”
Once the students have grown the food, they can use the produce in the kitchen to learn to cook new dishes, such as soup.
Ms Bernie continued: “Working in the garden would be of great value to our students.
“As well as the health benefits of working outside, they will be able to learn useful skills to help them find future employment in the areas of gardening, food service and hospitality.
“Gardening and protection of the environment are key parts of the curriculum in the school.
“The pupils start gardening in primary school and this runs all the way through the secondary school.
“In the sixth form they can also work in the Brookfields market garden, our onsite mini business where students grow fruit and vegetables to sell to school staff.”
The Stronger Starts scheme, in partnership with the Groundwork charity, aims to support many Reading community projects and good causes in the coming years.
Claire De Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “We’re delighted that we can help groups and clubs like Brookfields School.
“We invite customers to use their blue tokens at Tesco checkouts to vote for local schemes they feel will benefit children and young people.
“It’s so good to see the impact that the funding makes.”
For further information, visit: www.tescostrongerstarts.org.uk
