SCHOOL PLAYGROUND IS EDIBLE!!!
Pupils at Rockmount primary school in Upper Norwood can begin munching on the fresh produce they have cultivated in their playground thanks to funding from the charity Trees for Cities.
Vibrant outdoor spaces that teach children about growing fruit and vegetables have been created under the Edible Playgrounds banner at Rockmount.
Partnerships were also formed with School Food Matters, which supports schools to achieve a Food for Life award, and Chefs Adopt a School, which provides chefs who cook the edible playground produce with pupils.
The children’s learning is incorporated with the ongoing work of Croydon’s food flagship programme in schools, supported by the Mayor of London to develop a whole-school approach to healthy eating.
The schools’ playgrounds have been kindly supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the Tesco Bags of Help scheme, and international insurance company Marsh.
Upper Norwood ward Cllr Alisa Flemming who is Croydon’s cabinet member for children, young people and learning, said: “This is a great learning opportunity for children to thrive in this new and innovative playground environment.
“The excitement of being able to actually undertake some planting and sow seeds will help them combine the key elements of growing, cooking, and learning about eating fresh fruit and vegetables. .
“We hope that even more Croydon schools will have the opportunity to build an edible playground in the future.”
Trees for Cities has been working in schools to plant fruit and nut trees since 2000. The first Edible Playground was created in 2003. There are more than 30 Edible Playgrounds in the UK with a further 40 to be rolled out over the next three years.
The players of People’s Postcode Lottery have awarded Trees for Cities and its partners – Chefs Adopt a School and School Food Matters – nearly £250,000 Dream Funding to create 10 edible playgrounds over two years in schools across the UK. www.edibleplaygrounds.org
School Food Matters is a registered charity that campaigns for fresh sustainable food in schools, and for children to understand from where their food comes. www.schoolfoodmatters.com
Chefs Adopt a School was founded in 1990 by the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts. Adopt a School, which includes Chefs Adopt a School and Hospitality in Schools, is a national charity which teaches children – in a holistic way – about food, cookery, food provenance, food growing, healthy eating, nutrition, hygiene, table etiquette and the importance of eating together. The charity reaches more than 20,000 children every year. http://www.chefsadoptaschool.org.uk/
(Source: Croydon council press release)
