Getting York growing

IT’S a murky old day for gardening. The driving rain and howling wind would put off all but the hardiest. But pupils at Poppleton Road Primary School do not mind a soaking, in fact most will tell you that getting muddy is a lot more fun than an hour of maths.

Just as well, because there’s work to be done. The school is about to benefit from a new three-year project called York Get Growing and today is a big day. Teams from British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), which runs the project nationally, have just arrived on the sodden sports field to help the children dig raised beds where they will soon grow their own fruit and vegetables.

BTCV is already working with 20 other schools in the city, but Poppleton is the first to benefit from the fruit of their labours. And to mark the event, a pair of fruit trees is about to be planted. Delighted year three teacher, Rebecca Kearney, has taken on the project on behalf of the school. She says, in part, it is about attitude to challenges and rising to those challenges.

“Children need to enjoy being outside and we have run nature and garden clubs. Now it is time to let the whole school have a go.”

Rebecca believes the scheme also goes further than that. Parents and local residents have volunteered to lend a hand and she says this is the start of an important community initiative.

“Parents love this sort of thing, it makes the primary years memorable and with Get Growing there is something for everyone.”

Indeed there is. For those who don’t want to sully their hands, there is research to do, tips to jot down and recipes to devise.

At the moment the younger children are all fired up over carrots while Rebecca says the older ones can’t wait for their first crop of sweetcorn.

“Each class will have half a bed to work on and, with guidance, they will decide what to plant. The children will also be allowed to take seeds away to grow at home.”

Rebecca says the whole school is buzzing, including the head teacher, who left her a note saying ‘I love it … X’.

But Get Growing is more than good fun, it’s highly topical. We’ve never been more conscious of the need to reduce food miles and, as everyone knows, freshly picked fruit and vegetables taste much better.

In York, the scheme was set up in the summer with funding from the Big Lottery’s Local Food programme and some of that money is being used to fund a pair project officers.

Tony Chalcraft is one of them. He says the aim is to enable people to set up sustainable food-growing networks.

“We’ve already had a lot of enthusiasm for this project which we hope will have a big impact on local food growing. Poppleton Road is the latest Get Growing site in York and it will get the children involved in growing some of their favourite fruit and vegetables.”

Schools are a particular focus of the project’s activities and it will be working with a number of them through York Edible Schools to develop or expand existing food growing areas.

Now, Tony says, the organisation wants 500 volunteers to get involved across the city. And you don’t need to be green fingered; free training courses come as part of the deal.

“We are also are looking for new sites. City of York Council is already a partner and we want to work with schools, companies and parish councils.

“Allotment waiting lists are so long and this is a great alternative way to make an impact.”

The other thing Tony is keen to develop is mentoring at each site.

Poppleton Road already has their mentor; Ruth Jennaway, who says she is in it for the long term. Ruth lives nearby and has tended her own allotment for four years.

“I always wanted to grow my own vegetables,” she says. “It feels like magic to plant a tiny seed and see it grow. It also keeps you in touch with the seasons.”

And, as Ruth says, you can’t buy the taste of fresh sweetcorn.

Ruth may not need any training, but for those new to horticulture, Get Growing courses include seasonal growing, pruning, keeping poultry, organics, composting and family allotments.

Tony says there will also be an internet network to exchange advice and best practice.

That is designed to complement the food growing mentor’s scheme which will provide a library of knowledge to help groups and individuals grow their own food successfully.

Poppleton Road already has its own font of knowledge with boards displaying lessons learned to help future pupils.

For Rebecca, the school’s involvement with Get Growing has another huge advantage. “I love the idea of children and residents producing their own food and not having to buy fruit and vegetables that have been flown in from thousands of miles away.” Good point. Let’s hope York Get Growing sees more of us out in the garden, even on a murky old day like this. If pupils at Poppleton Road Primary School don’t mind a soaking, then nor should we.

Are you interested in getting involved?

If you have a site or community group and are keen to Get Growing, or act as a mentor, email yorkgetgrowing@btcv.org.uk or phone 01904 644300.

For more information and a list of training courses visit: edibleyork.org.uk/getgrowing You can also download a Get Growing App.

Growing together

York Get Growing is working across the city in partnership with Edible York, City of York Council, Ancient Society of Florists and Joseph Rowntree School, with the support of the Sustainable Schools Officer. The project is currently in phase one which concerns registering sites.

At the moment, sites registered with York Get Growing include Haxby Road Primary School, Retreat, Greenfields community garden, Poppleton Road Primary School, SNAPPY and St. George’s Roman Catholic Primary School.