Clare works with two school groups just over the border, South Haringey Infant and Junior Schools.

She runs a session with the Junior School every Friday afternoon. They are taking part in the Real Bread Campaign’s ‘Bake Your Lawn’ project growing wheat to mill and bake a loaf from (1m2 of wheat is all you need for a loaf!).

They also cover sustainability issues by recycling pots and harvesting rainwater – while the children are keen to try the vegetables they have grown themselves.

Clare has also written the lovely ‘New River Garden Newsletter’ (pictured) to celebrate what the children have achieved and to engage parents in what they’ve been up to.

Clare writes:

“Today we are weeding, watering and eating some things that we grew. We are eating radishes and lettuce which we grew from seed. We decided the radishes tasted sweet and peppery at the same time. Some of us were surprised that we like them.”

“While visiting the garden 5SW saw two swans and a worm. 5J saw a spider with 8 legs, a ladybird with six, a duck with two and a snail with none! One group found a bone – we think it was from someone who hadn’t handed in their homework on time.”

Ensuring that the adults within a school community feel connected with the food growing in that school is vital for success. Holiday watering rotas, old tools, extra pairs of hands during gardening sessions to support Clare and the children, and manpower on work days all come from the parent body, so Clare’s newsletter is an impressive way of including them in the fun.