Inspired growers learn from Patch Manager Jade at The Crescent Primary School in Croydon!
It’s part of Roots' wider mission to help inspire people to take up growing no matter their age! That means we regularly visit schools, care homes and other community projects to host talks, workshops and hands-on activities.
It’s part of Roots' wider mission to help inspire people to take up growing no matter their age! That means we regularly visit schools, care homes and other community projects to host talks, workshops and hands-on activities.
Unfortunately growing has been officially off the curriculum since 1945 and we think that it’s key to educate our young ones on where their food comes from because it’s usually a very ‘supermarket based relationship’, sorry kids but a courgette does not come from a shelf in Tesco!
It’s a pleasure to unlock the power of growing in children and help them forge a deeper connection to the natural world by planting and nurturing seedlings. Jade, our Patch Manager at Roots Allotments Meadow Hill, Croydon was invited to The Crescent Primary School where she gave an inspirational speech and then helped over 70 children have a go with sowing flower and vegetable seeds. It was a no brainer when the school reached out, as the year 5 classes were learning a module called 'Roots, Shoots and Fruits.' where they were learning about the science of growing!
They had such an amazing time their teacher Porsha Akpofure sent us this lovely message after!
‘’A HUGE, HUGE, HUGE THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US HERE AT THE CRESCENT!
We met with Jade and our Year 5 children were sooo happy to see her! She was bubbly, full of life and knowledgeable about all things, plants! The workshop that she delivered included all of our pupils', those with special and complex needs as well as mainstream.
She was personable and on hand with the demos to show our children how to sow seeds. She had so many available and allowed children to choose which they'd like to plant, allowing them expression through pupil voice. I don't think she's ever heard 'Miss Jade' called so many times in a day lol.
We really enjoyed having Jade deliver this workshop on behalf of Roots Allotment and are so grateful for her time and the knowledge she shared. We only wish it could've been longer!
We would love to have Jade re-visit before the end of the school year / start of the next academic year to do a check in / recall session with our pupils to support this experience that they've had, and to solidify more of their learning.
AGAIN, A MASSIVE THANK YOU - Please let us know if there's anything more we can do as a school to support yourselves as part of our Croydon and wider school community.
JADE - THANK YOUUUUUUUUU - YOU'RE A GEM xxx’’