Fairford school team up with flower shop (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Fairford school team up with flower shop

YOUNGSTERS at Coln House School in Fairford have been getting their hands dirty by growing fresh produce to sell at a local shop.

Vegetables, fruits and flowers are being grown on the school grounds after teachers decided to get pupils out of the classroom and into nature.

The 60 pupils have nearly two acres of land from which to harvest ingredients for lunches and dinners at the boarding school and any excess is now being sold at local shop Fairford Flowers.

Gardener Cliff Taylor has been in charge of the horticultural initiative at Coln House since last July. He believes spending time outdoors is an essential aspect of education and says the scheme is proving a great success.

"I think it is so important for children to learn where their fruit and vegetables comes from, especially for young people from cities," he said.

"They are also able to learn a skill, or at the very least a hobby. I think it is a very good initiative and I hope the children learn from it."

Crops grown by the budding gardeners have included peas, raspberries, carrots as well as a range of flowering plants and Mr Taylor's philosophy is: "You name it, we grow it."

"The idea is to produce fruit and vegetables for the school but any surplus we get rid of to anyone who wants it," he added.

"We are organising a fair in May, which is a fundraising event for the school when we will also be selling hanging baskets and plants."

Fairford Flowers began its association with the school by selling Coln House-grown mushroom last year and is happy to showcase the produce all year round.

Owner Caroline Borchardt says it has been a very welcome addition to her stock.

"It is great the children are growing such wonderful produce," she said, "and it's so much fresher than we can get anywhere else."