A New Kitchen Garden for Children to Learn and Grow
Lancaster Lodge Childcare is delighted to unveil its new kitchen garden, a wonderful addition to our outdoor learning environment that provides children with exciting opportunities to learn, grow and explore nature throughout the year.
The kitchen garden has been created as part of our ongoing commitment to enriching the children’s learning experiences. We were delighted to receive a generous financial contribution towards the project from one of our nursery families through the EnjoyBenefits / Workplace Nurseries payment scheme. Their support has helped us further develop the space into a thriving garden where children can experience the journey of growing their own food from seed to harvest.
Growing Fresh Vegetables and Herbs at Nursery
Already, the garden is flourishing, and we are incredibly proud of how it has progressed. Over the coming months, we are looking forward to harvesting an abundance of fresh produce, including pumpkins, courgettes, marrows, butternut squash, tomatoes, sweet corn, runner beans, herbs, cucumbers, peppers and lettuces.
Children Harvest Their First Home-Grown Lettuces
We’re especially excited to share that our first crop of fresh lettuces has already been harvested. The children recently enjoyed sampling the home-grown leaves as part of their teatime, proudly tasting something they had helped to nurture from seed. It was a wonderful milestone that demonstrated the value of growing fresh, healthy food and gave the children a real sense of achievement.
Encouraging Healthy Eating from an Early Age
The kitchen garden has quickly become an integral part of everyday nursery life, helping children develop an understanding of where food comes from while encouraging healthy eating, sustainability and a love of the natural world. Through planting, watering, caring for and harvesting the crops, the children gain valuable hands-on experiences that support all areas of learning and development, while fostering curiosity, responsibility and confidence.
Claire Underwood, Manager of Lancaster Lodge Childcare, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to the family who chose to support our kitchen garden through the EnjoyBenefits / Workplace Nurseries scheme. Their contribution has helped us enhance this exciting project, creating a fantastic learning environment that the children will enjoy for years to come. Seeing them harvest and taste their very first lettuces at teatime has been a proud moment for us all, and we can’t wait to watch the rest of our fruits, vegetables and herbs flourish throughout the season.”
Everyone at Lancaster Lodge Childcare would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the family for their generosity and support. Their contribution has helped create a lasting resource that will inspire children to explore nature, understand healthy eating and enjoy the rewards of growing their own produce for many years to come.
