How to help children go green … make their playgrounds edible

Headteacher Clare Higgins was concerned when a 10-year-old student told her “something had gone wrong” during a recent lunch break. But she was quietly relieved to see the student was talking about the carrots the school had been growing in their allotment, which to everyone’s shock had turned out purple.

There have been countless moments like this since the charity Trees for Cities transformed an unused concrete square at Holy Cross Catholic primary school in Birkenhead into a beautiful allotment where staff and students grow strawberries, rhubarb and pumpkins.

These allotments, known as “edible playgrounds”, provide some of the most deprived children in the country with the chance to learn about where their food comes from while also giving them an important connection with nature. Trees for Cities, which since 1993 has planted more than 1 million trees across the UK, believes this connection is key to raising children who will grow up to be guardians of the environment in the fight to avert the climate crisis.

David Elliott, chief executive of Trees for Cities, said: “The entry point is around healthy food and food-growing but there’s a wide range of benefits that the edible playground brings in behaviour, confidence, and wellbeing. More broadly, our vision is to be working from the youngest age upwards to inspire kids to get out and be connected to nature so they become the guardians and conservationists of the future. Without them, we’re not going to have future cities that have trees and green spaces that are protected and seen as vital.”

That vision has already flowered in Bidston Village C of E primary school, down the road from Holy Cross. On a cold December afternoon, 11-year-old Leila said the allotment had made her think more about her place in the world. “It makes you think about making sure that the plastic isn’t getting in the soil or nothing is getting in the way. It makes you a bit more aware of what’s happening in the world,” she said. “It makes you want to help. When I had a sleepover, we took the time in the morning to pick up plastics.”

Trees for Cities, which is one of the Guardian and Observer 2019 charity appeal partners, has worked with 100 schools in 12 towns and cities to build bespoke edible gardens over the past 10 years. The programme provides schools with durable oak raised beds and vertical growing spaces, seating, seeds, plants, a greenhouse, one class’s worth of gardening tools, a wormery and composting area.

The charity works specifically with schools in areas that have high levels of poverty and obesity but little access to green spaces. The three issues are deeply interlinked, according to Trees for Cities, and by getting children to grow their own fruit and vegetables, the charity hopes to encourage healthy eating and physical activity.

Deprivation levels are high at both Holy Cross and Bidston Village, with nearly one in three children living in poverty in the area. “Some of the children have such sedentary lifestyles. Just getting them up and out and realising that this is pleasurable, enjoyable and quite a social experience is important,” said Bidston Village deputy head Katharine John. She said the two estates and the avenues across the main road had no play park. “We have to try and compensate for that as much as possible. I know early years have found that the physical development aspect has really waned recently, because children don’t have the freedom to run and climb, and there isn’t anywhere for them to go to.”

As well as vital access to nature, healthy food and a place to play, edible playgrounds can show the transformative power of an outdoor learning environment. Teachers use them to teach maths, art, science and English.

Nine-year-old Edwin, who has taken a leading role in the gardening after-school club, said: “I like the leaves, especially when caterpillars eat them. I like the lifecycle. First it’s the caterpillar and then it eats leaves and get bigger and bigger then it cocoons and becomes a butterfly.”

Teachers said the open space had done wonders for students with learning difficulties, who tend to struggle in a classroom environment. In Bidston Village, some teachers even use the garden for students in detention. John said: “It’s less confrontational than a classroom. They’re getting some of their anger out, and they feel a lot better.”

The key to the edible playgrounds programme is sustainability. Trees for Cities provides schools with support for a year, but it’s then up to the schools to keep the gardens going, which both schools are eager to do. “It’s just been a wonderful project to be part of, and one we’re clearly loving taking forward. It will be here for many years to come,” Higgins said.

As for Leila, she said she hopes to be able to save the planet and protect the environment “one onion at a time”.