'Al Fresco Young Gardeners Club' Beacon Site

Friar Park, Mesty Croft & Woods Extended Schools Core Offer Partnership

During the growing season, children from one high school, four primary schools and the local Sure Start Nursery make weekly visits to their local allotment in Friar Park to plant, nurture and harvest their own fruit and vegetables under the expert guidance of the Friar Park Allotment Association. Eventually pupils take the produce they have grown home to share with their families, or in the case of the High School, sell it to their teaching staff!

The project creates opportunities to study the wildlife, the outside environment and the lifecycle of plants through from the seed to the plate. The children are taught 'hands on’ skills they may not otherwise acquire and are offered tasting sessions of 'home grown' harvest. This encourages them to consider and enjoy healthier eating and the work in school continues to reinforce the children’s outside learning experiences in their class work. Thanks to a successful Big Lottery Fund grant this summer, a local artist worked with the primary groups to plan, paint and produce some wonderful artwork now displayed as colourful weather resistant installations on the site. The high school pupils are working with the same artist to produce stylized 'graffiti-art’ also to be displayed.

The aims of the project are to enhance the confidence and social skills of participants and to support the healthy eating ethic in schools. Primary children look forward to their weekly sessions and high school pupils have been known to turn up at the allotment during their school holidays and INSET days! All partners are committed to the success of this outdoor educational experience.

Horticultural expertise and time is donated by the Friar Park Allotment Association and financial support is through the FRESCO partnership and Wednesbury Learning Community. The schools involved are Mesty Croft, The Priory, Tameside and Park Hill Primaries and Manor Foundation High. The local artist is Diane Robinson. Wednesbury Learning Community 0121 505 4082

Services Offered

To introduce mainly primary age children to food production in a scheme called 'seed to plate'. Children from four local primary schools grow their own food crops and undertake all the care required to produce the end product.

The children also undertake associated studies whilst on site - i.e. pollination process, vegetable groups, plant and human dependency. The project is also used by one secondary school who use one full allotment plot, the students, under guidance, learn the practices of basic horticulture and business management.

Facilities

Two dedicated learning centre buildings, toilet, secure supervised growing area with four raised beds per school, & two shared greenhouses.

Participation

Children deemed eligible by their respective schools.

Booking

Schools have regular weekly visits, extra visits are possible by arrangement with the project director.

Contact

Contact Details: George Reeves
'Al Fresco' Project Director.
Friar Park Allotment Assoc.
c/o 182 Crankhall Lane,
Wednesbury.
West Midlands. WS10 0EB
Tel: 0121 531 9213
Email : sr004g9409@blueyonder.co.uk