12:31pm Wednesday 14th July 2010
By Neil Skinner
Pupils at a Watford primary school rolled up their sleeves and muddied their hands this morning as they put the finishing touches to a new allotment.
The children, from Laurance Haines Primary School, in Vicarage Road, planted three new beds with tomatoes, carrots, pumpkins and other tasty produce under the watchful tutelage of Mary Reid, the former chairman of the Watford Allotment Society.
Mrs Read said: “I think it is a great idea. This is a great way to reconnect children with the soil and nature. So many children do not know where their food comes from so this allotment will help them to learn.”
Classroom assistant Cathy Pyatt added: “It’s been really popular with the children. They’ve been cultivating the plants since Easter and have been fighting with each other to get involved.”
The project, funded by property developer Origin Housing, should result in children eating their own produce later in the year.
Seven-year-old Monica Leitao added: “Working outside is really fun because we can watch things grow. It makes me feel really happy.”
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