Gardening project at Birkby Infant and Nursery and Junior Schools

Jun 16 2009 By Hazel Ettienne

AN exciting school and community project is teaching children about growing and eating healthy food.

Children from Birkby Infant and Nursery School and Birkby Junior School have worked together on the ‘Make it, Grow it, Eat it’ campaign.

And it culminated with an edible "living room" installation at both schools and scarecrow walk between the two to celebrate the event.

Children worked with artists, Stephanie Bartholet, Mick Kirby-Geddes, David Mayne, Kate Woodfield and Sarah Branson.

They took part in a variety of workshops to learn new skills such as willow weaving, felt making, bottle top modelling, recycled plastic and tin sculpting.

The new skills were put together and used to create a living room of furniture.

The furniture was adapted so that plants and vegetables, fruits and herbs can be grown in them.

The living room will be placed outside in the playground and children will then tend and grow the plants until they are harvested.

Children at both schools also learned about how to cook healthy meals. Tim Bilton, Yorkshire Chef of the year, visited the junior school to demonstrate his cooking skills to parents and children.