Grow with Esh has enabled 80 schools and thousands of children across the North East region to run some amazing projects.
Now in its fifth year, the scheme has been awarded a Big Tick in the Education category of Business in the Community’s Awards 2010 and was shortlisted as an Example of Excellence. We are extremely proud that Grow with Esh has been awarded a Big Tick and hope that others will be inspired to follow our lead!
Grow with Esh is designed to instigate a wide range of positive outcomes in schools across the North East region by helping young people to develop horticultural projects in or near their school grounds. Working as a competition, the scheme not only enhances learning opportunities but provides pupils with hands-on experiences that they may not have previously had.
The scheme has been a huge success; restoring derelict school surroundings whilst promoting creative learning, establishing commercial social enterprises and building links amongst communities.
Last year the competition was promoted to over 950 primary schools in the region with the aim of encouraging students to adopt healthy and active lifestyles. A total of 20 primary schools, from the borders Scotland to North Yorkshire, each received a grant which was used during the course of the summer to set up and develop their individual projects. Examples of some of the projects include vegetable patches, gardens for butterflies and bumble bees, sensory gardens and wildlife trails.
The judging of the additional prize money, which was announced in November, looked for exceptional projects which engage the pupils and the wider community, as well as providing excellent classroom learning opportunities and highlighting issues such as healthy eating and entrepreneurship.
2010 Winners
1st Place – Cleves Cross Primary School ‘Sow It, Grow It, Cook It, Eat It’ Project
The school aims to develop the school grounds in order to provide opportunities for pupils to learn about sustainability outside the classroom. Pupils were consulted on their proposals for the new site which included a wildlife area, food growing area, small livestock area, sensory garden and healthy play equipment.
The school was very keen to involve the local community and contacted local councillors, community police officers, the Allotment Society and Local Residents Association. They have an active gardening club which is growing produce for the school kitchen and cookery club, and any surplus is sold in a small enterprise initiative.
An orchard of 12 trees has been planted and planting boxes have been built which now produce good vegetable crops. A polytunnel has been erected, which is big enough for a class to use even if the weather is poor. It is used to support all subjects as well as teaching healthy eating skills. The school hope that the project will make their school grounds a local feature and focal point for the community.
2nd Place – Hemlington Hall Primary School ‘The Edible Garden’
The aim of the project was to develop a separate propagation area to produce the material needed to fill the new Edible Garden. As an Eco School they are committed to changing the way in which the pupils view what and how they eat – they want the children to see food production from start to finish.
The Edible Garden consists of 11 raised beds, a beautiful seating area and a growing resource just bursting with potential. They also have an orchard, tree plantations, a paved five-a-side area, a series of planters, seats and gravel paths providing access for all the pupils during break time. Pupils are encouraged to work at any time for the betterment of the grounds and planting stock. It is obvious that the children feel that they have ownership of the project – which ultimately all adds up to a happy, interesting school community for anyone to see!
3rd Place – Captain Cook Primary School ‘The Gardening Challenge’
The Gardening Challenge consisted of each class being allocated their own area close to their classroom in which they grew flowers and produce. Each class then choose what to enter in the school horticultural show held in July, which was judged by the adult members of the school’s ‘Green Team’. They also organised a ‘school fair’, which was a huge success and involved parents and the community, helping to make better contact with staff, parents and the children.
Growing is now part of the school culture, with the add-on of maths, cooking, and all the planning that goes with it. By each class having their own area, every child has the experience of the planting and growing, caring for the plants, observing growth and harvesting the results. The project has also helped to improve the appearance of the school grounds.
“Business in the Community recognises what a great example it is of how Esh Group supports the future of the region through young people.”
Karen Wilkinson-Bell, Regional Director of Business in the Community in the North East
“Grow with Esh gave us the realization we could take our idea forward, instead of just thinking about it. Esh Charitable Trust enabled us to connect pupils past and present, spanning 60+ years with a creative magical project which is still evolving and everyone is still talking about. Esh Charitable Trust makes things possible!”
Teacher, Leadgate Infant & Nursery School (2009 Winners