Get Growing was an exciting three year project funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food scheme.
The project was launched in October 2009 and worked with pre-school nurseries, children’s centres and parent and toddler groups across the Hammersmith and Fulham borough to facilitate growing fruit and vegetables, cooking and eating.
Our Get Growing co-ordinator visited the early-years establishments to give technical growing advice and support and draw up garden maintenance schedules. A selection pack of unusual fruit and vegetables seedlings was sent out each spring along with a monthly newsletter which advised on what to do in the garden and included curriculum-linked activities.
Ongoing INSET training days and visits to Ravenscourt Park Glasshouses helped give staff confidence to grow their own plants with children.
The Get Growing project included:
INSET training for staff teaching under fives
Pre-school site visits and individual action plans
Advice on growing fruit, vegetables and sourcing materials
Monthly email of ‘What to do in the garden’
Trips to Ravenscourt Park glasshouses and ‘Pick your own farms’
Composting advice and guidance
If you are interested in the Get Growing project, please get in touch as we are still able to offer many aspects of the project for a small fee.
We have compiled the monthly ‘what to do in the garden’ emails into three pdfs, one for each term, which cover what you can do in the garden, activities to do both inside and out and lots of tips to make growing with children easy and fun!
Get Growing Autumn Term- What to do in the garden and seasonal activities
Get Growing Spring Term – what to do in the garden and seasonal activities
Get Growing Summer Term – What to do in the garden and seasonal activities
