Schools & the RHS

Organic gardening at Northwood Primary School

Our school, on the Isle of Wight, of 200 four to nine year olds has just completed our first year of organic gardening. We have a daily gardening club, which involves over 80 children a week, who meet each day under the guidance of two ‘head gardeners’ and an inspirational midday meal supervisor.

The garden has been squeezed into a dull patch of ground which now includes:

Raised beds
Tyre tubs
A garden shed
A polytunnel
A recycling centre
Explanation boards
A potting shed with autumn veg ready to go
A range of seasonal vegetables including carrots, radishes, herbs, strawberries, salad leaves, potatoes, runner beans, broad beans and onions.

The children also have responsibility for our wild area, pond, shady dens and interactive pergola. The children designed and painted a mural on the shed, and are building a mosaic from found beachcombed pieces. In August we opened our grounds to the public and served cream teas as well as giving guided tours and selling our vegetables.

Vicki Johnson