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Heritage seed variety, Mummy's Pea. Photo: Garden Organic. — Heritage seed variety, Mummy’s Pea. Photo: Garden Organic.

Celebrating the work of School Seed Guardians

by Julie Henley-Wilkinson

Cast your mind back to the start of the growing season on a cold, rainy, sleet ridden and blustery day in March. Enthusiastic staff from schools across London set off on a journey that commenced in Holland Park Ecology Centre in Royal Borough Kensington & Chelsea.

Their mission? To take some precious Heritage Seeds that are no longer commercially available and teach young growers in their schools to become ‘Seed Guardians’, and learn how to sow, grow, harvest and preserve the next generation of seeds for ‘Mummy’s Pea’ and ‘Czechoslovakian climbing French beans’ varieties.

Why save seed? – Garden Organic’s Heritage Seeds Library
The destination of the newly produced seed is the unique Heritage Seed Library run by FGSL’s lead partner Garden Organic. Here they will be carefully checked and quality assured so that more Seed Guardians may continue the fragile and hugely important work of keeping these special varieties alive. Without this work varieties of fruit, vegetables and herbs will decline and important seed varieties will become extinct.

Seed packing at the Heritage Seed Library. Photo: Garden Organic.

City growing spaces for schools
London schools often need to be creative and inventive with their sometimes limited urban outdoor space in which to grow. The Seed Guardians took up the challenge with great gusto, using community allotments, purposed built raised trugs and old tyres all obligingly hosting the precious seeds. The schools involved were:

Camden – Argyle Primary School
Croydon – Bensham Manor School
Ealing – Berrymede School
Greenwich – Charlton Park Academy
Hackney – St Scholasticas RC Primary School
Havering – Brookside Infants School
Kingston – Richard Challoner Secondary School
Lambeth – Bonneville Primary, Dunraven Primary, Hitherfield Primary
Richmond – Trafalgar Infants School

A challenging growing season
Growers out there may agree that the 2016 growing season may be remembered for its inclement weather. A cold, if non-existent spring followed by the exceptionally late arrival of summer. A few slugs and snails nibbled away at our luscious ‘Mummy’s Pea’ and ‘Czechoslovakian Bean’ plants whilst they were still getting established, but our Seed Guardians did not let this stop them! A school visit to Trafalgar Infants School in early September revealed we were not the only ones to think this way. A sudden and previously unexplained disappearance of some of ‘Mummy’s Pea’ crop was obligingly solved when Mr & Mrs Mouse and family, put in an appearance for a photo call.

Successful seed saving in schools
The final arrival of some summer sun was welcomed by our young Seed Guardians, and plants finally flourished and produced gorgeous seeds for an autumn harvest. The seed saving journey has proved to be loaded with fun, challenge and opportunity for a group of eager young growers. As pods are dried and seeds are harvested, we wait with anticipation to learn how many seeds were saved from the London schools pilot crop this year. But we do know it was all worth it when we hear that lovely question: ‘can we do this again next year?’

Seed Guardians pass it on: sharing seeds for planting next year.
A small enthusiastic and committed group of seed guardians made a really important contribution to saving heritage seeds this year. To keep on growing a good thing just needs a bit of foresight and local school co-operation. Our pilot school seed guardians are now equipped to pass on their learning experiences as guardians and can offer a neighbouring school a few saved seeds to start growing their own heritage plants next growing season and save even more seeds.

Find out how to do ‘Seed saving in schools’ with this handy Garden Organic guide – found on our FGSL Resources page.

About Julie
Julie Henley-Wilkinson is one of three School and Community Engagement Officers. She works with schools and organisations in: Ealing, Hounslow, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston, Richmond, Hackney, Merton and Wandsworth.

Julie supports both community events and school events where there are multiple schools involved, in all of these boroughs. She also runs twilight seminars and training sessions on a wide range of grow your own topics to suit the needs of the schools. Occasionally one off school visits can also be arranged.

Julie has worked with children and families for more than 25 years, 15 of those have been directly in education, working with children from early years, right through to college leavers. Helping and supporting the learning needs of children with disabilities and those from vulnerable groups has been a consistent thread throughout. Passing on her knowledge and skills related to ‘how to grow’ means that I can make a contribution towards young learners accessing opportunities to develop confidence and achieve their aspirations.

Find support in your borough: FGSL Team.

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Junior Gardeners’ Question Time at the Food Growing Schools: London Celebration Event at City Hall. The young panellists were from Trafalgar Infant School (Richmond), Rokesly Junior School (Haringey) and Reay Primary School (Lambeth). — Junior Gardeners’ Question Time panelists from Trafalgar Infant School (Richmond), Rokesly Junior School (Haringey) and Reay Primary School (Lambeth). Photo: Jane Baker/Garden Organic.

From strawberry jam to tomato ketchup, and the great British apple to winter salad bags – young entrepreneurs from 10 London schools shared their food growing skills with the public at City Hall on Thursday 13 October 2016. They represent the increasing number of London students experiencing the huge benefits of food growing since the launch of Food Growing Schools: London (FGSL) in 2013.

On Thursday 13 October 2016 during a unique FGSL Celebration Event, students showcased their school-grown produce at the sixth FGSL Schools Marketplace, run in partnership with Capital Growth, and took to the stage in the prestigious London’s Living Room.

The event was opened by Joanne McCartney AM, Deputy Mayor for London, and Deputy Mayor for Education and Childcare, for the Greater London Authority. It included the launch of the FGSL Interim Report (October 2016), showing the wide ranging benefits of food growing. There was also FGSL’s very own Junior Gardener’s Question Time, chaired by former Blue Peter Gardener Chris Collins – with food growing questions answered by children from schools across London.

When he attended the last Schools Marketplace at City Hall, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “ I’m really pleased to host the Schools Marketplace in City Hall. I want to help Londoners to have access to better food, and lead healthier lifestyles, so it’s great to see these young people growing their own grub and developing entrepreneurial skills.”

Students from schools in Croydon, Ealing, Greenwich, Haringey, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Richmond and Southwark took part, and won prizes as part of the *Schools Marketplace Competition.

Fred Wilcox, RHS Young Gardener of the Year, at the Food Growing Schools: London Schools Marketplace with City Hall staff. Trafalgar Infants School, Richmond. Jane Baker/Garden Organic — Fred Wilcox, RHS Young Gardener of the Year at the Schools Marketplace, selling produce from the Trafalgar Infant School stall (Richmond) to City Hall staff. Jane Baker/Garden Organic

*Schools Marketplace participants and competition prize winners:

Athelney Primary School, Lewisham
Charlton Park Academy, Greenwich
Dormers Wells High School, Ealing
Elmwood Primary School, Croydon
*Holy Trinity C of E Primary School, Lewisham: Winners – ‘Best Dressed Stall’
*Kelvin Grove Primary School, Lewisham: Winners – ‘People’s Choice’
Reay Primary School, Lambeth
*Rokesly Junior School, Haringey: Winners – ‘Most Enterprising Product’
Rotherhithe Primary School, Southwark
Trafalgar Infant School, Richmond

Mark Dale-Emberton, Principle at Charlton Park Academy, Greenwich said: “Working with Food Growing Schools: London has helped us re-evaluate and reenergise the staff and students. We have looked afresh at our curriculum and how we can use the food that we grow to improve our meals, health and general wellbeing.”

Since their launch in 2013, Food Growing Schools: London have seen an amazing 25 out of 33 London boroughs step up to promote food growing in schools. The Benefits of Food Growing are impressive and far reaching – showing a positive impact on children’s physical and mental health, environment and education, and the local community and economy. Nearly 80% of schools engaged with FGSL have reported improved behaviour or attainment in students as a result of food growing, and one in four schools now use food growing as a teaching tool linked to curriculum activities. The FGSL report, containing the outcomes of an independent project evaluation by University of the West England, celebrates the successes of this innovative London-wide partnership, led by Garden Organic. The project is supported by the Mayor of London and the Big Lottery Fund.

James Campbell, Chief Executive, Garden Organic said: “I am deeply proud of what we have achieved so far — *87% of London schools are now growing food and considerably more pupils, parents, community members and businesses are involved.”

Speakers at the celebration event included Chris Collins (former Blue Peter Gardener, Broadcaster and Head of Horticulture at Garden Organic), James Campbell (CEO Garden Organic), Judy Orme (Professor of Public Health and Sustainability) and Mat Jones (Associate Professor of Public Health, University of West England).

Chris Collins, Broadcaster and Head of Horticulture at Garden Organic said: “I’m lucky to be out and about meeting students all the time, and it’s been amazing to see the difference Food Growing Schools: London is having in our London schools. The food growing support, resources and expertise the partnership provides is fantastic. Every school should take advantage and get involved!”

Whether you are already growing food in your school, you wish to get started, or you represent an organisation who can help, Food Growing Schools: London is open to all to Get Involved.

Ends

Notes

Jane Baker – Communications Officer, Food Growing Schools: London
07474210703 (PT – Mon to Thurs only)

foodgrowingschools.org / https://twitter.com/FoodGrowSchools

Spokespeople – Chris Collins (Broadcaster and Head of Horticulture at Garden Organic) and James Campbell (CEO Garden Organic)

Food Growing Schools: London is an ambitious Lottery funded project, supported by the Mayor of London that aims to get every London school growing their own food. Garden Organic as the lead organisation is working together with partners, Capital Growth, the Soil Association’s Food For Life project, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), School Food Matters and Trees for Cities. The Schools Marketplace, organised with FGSL partner Capital Growth, took place as part of Grow Your Own Business 2016. #GYOBusiness

FGSL Interim Project Report (October 2016)*
An independent project evaluation by University of the West England (Bristol), summarising the progress of the programme in its third year, assessing the impacts of FGSL for participants and wider stakeholders, focusing on schools and those supporting school food growing. To download the full report visit: Our Achievements

*Figures based on evaluation surveys with lead school teachers in September 2013 (n=504) and July 2016 (n=241). The independent FGSL project evaluation was carried out by research teams from the University of the West England and Cardiff University.

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Tag: Kensington and Chelsea

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