We are delighted with the impact made following a £500 award to Dee Point Primary School.
The school had an outside garden area including raised beds that were sadly sitting empty due to lack of resources. Our grant enabled the school to buy supplies, such as soil, seeds and netting, which were used to grow produce during nature classes. Approximately 100 children attended these weekly classes during which they grew a whole range of fruit and vegetables, including beans, potatoes, carrots and strawberries.
The process taught the pupils how to take care of plants giving them a sense of ownership, improved wellbeing from access to nature and supported healthy eating. At the end of the cycle, the crops were harvested, cooked and eaten. In fact, the project was so successful that there was a surplus of fruit and vegetables so the school ran a farmers’ market allowing all pupils to take home produce, meaning the whole school benefitted.
With nearly 500 pupils, the primary school is larger than most and serves a community where social deprivation is significantly higher than the national average. Nearly half the school pupils are eligible for free school meals and over a third have Special Educational Needs.
It is estimated that with school staff, pupils and their reach at home, the produce growing project reached around 2000 people, inspiring them with nature.
The Chester Bluecoat Charity was pleased to be able to support the nature classes at Dee Point Primary School as they help to improve wellbeing, confidence and healthy eating of children and their families, many of who are from a deprived background.
