We are often asked where the inspiration for our Grow-Cook-Eat extra-curricular clubs came from. The answer is simple — it all began in a school garden.
In 2024, we had the privilege of creating a food-growing garden in partnership with Cookley Sebright Primary School, made possible thanks to National Lottery Community Funding. What started as a patch of outdoor space quickly became something much more — a place where children could get their hands dirty, grow real food and discover where their food comes from.
It has been wonderful to see how that garden has continued to thrive. Still blooming today, it produces fruits and vegetables throughout the year and is used to support classroom learning by bringing lessons to life beyond the four walls of the school.
The garden is also at the heart of Cookley’s year-round extracurricular clubs, delivered in partnership with local volunteers from Cookley in Bloom, and is also used to support after-school cooking sessions. These partnerships have helped create a shared community space where learning, growing and practical skills come together.
Seeing children move from planting seeds, to caring for crops, to understanding how food can be prepared was a powerful moment for us. It showed just how meaningful learning can be when growing, cooking and eating are connected. That experience became the foundation for our Grow · Cook · Eat clubs — practical, hands-on programmes that help children develop life skills, understand where food comes from and build healthy habits for the future.
The Cookley garden didn’t just grow food. It grew ideas, confidence and a shared belief that children learn best when they are actively involved. We are proud that this original project continues to flourish and that its impact now can reach many more schools and communities through our clubs.
From one school garden to a growing movement — this is where the story began.
