Green-fingered schoolchildren to grow own food in hospital garden

The Trust which runs the hospital organised the event alongside parents, teachers and school children from Uphill Primary School in Weston, who are teaming up to turn unused land at the hospital into a plot to grow healthy food.  

The hospital approached the school about the gardening initiative after recognising a need to help young people in the area better understand where their food comes from. 

With help from the hospital’s Estates team, parents, teachers and school children from Uphill Primary have begun turning a patch of unused grass into a community garden. 

The garden will soon be a place for school children to grow their own fruit, vegetables and flowers, and experience first-hand what it means to grow their own healthy food.

The Trust’s Director of Strategic Development, Bronwen Bishop, who has been integral to turning a seed of an idea into reality, comments: “We believe that our hospital should contribute to the local community in as many ways as possible and today’s launch of our gardening initiative with Uphill Primary School is one of the ways we are doing that. 

“Some schools in the area struggle to have ready access to green space – this project provides children with the chance to get outdoors and produce something they’re proud of. Alongside that, our unloved plot of land is being transformed into a budding allotment, full of potential harvest come the summer.

“We hope the initiative encourages healthy eating and active lifestyles as well as educating local children about where food comes from. 

“We’re really excited by this project and its potential. Teaching young people practical skills such as growing their own food not only provides children with a sense of value but also helps them make connections with the natural environment and encourages greater engagement with their neighbourhood – improving the community as a whole.”

The plot at Weston General Hospital has already been transformed with flower beds, bug hotels and outside classrooms being put in place to help schoolchildren on the way to successful gardening.

Andrea Curran, Headteacher of Uphill Primary School, said “We were delighted when we were approached by the hospital to partner with them on this project. 

“Through external funding support, we have been able to design a child-friendly space where all children – and their families – can come and learn about the benefits of growing their own produce, cooking what they have grown and making those healthy life-choices. 

“Gardening and growing is cross-curriculum – Science, Maths, English, Cooking, Nutrition and even Art can all be taught through gardening.” 

Barney Main, a year two child at the school, said “I love growing my own vegetables and can’t wait to get growing in our new allotment.”