NHC COMMUNITY ALLOTMENT
We have been delighted with the creation of our fantastic community allotment at our Stevenage site. Before it was built you would be forgiven for thinking there was no space available on our small site. However, with thanks to the Pears #iwill fund, we have managed to utilise a small unused space and redesign it into a working allotment.
Students from across the college are getting involved working with our allotment leader and getting creative, learning about gardening, health and nutrition and trying new activities. Students are building their knowledge as well as their mental well-being.
The students have really enjoyed being involved and to further develop their understanding they have been sharing their knowledge in the local community. Sharing their love for the environment and growing their own produce, Health and Social care students have made regular visits to a local care home to talk about their projects. In addition, they have visited our charity of the year, Garden House Hospice where they showcased their project to the patients and then got their hands dirty working in the hospice garden helping to tidy up the Hospice allotment. Our childcare students have invited local primary school children into the allotment where they were able to plant their own seedlings, try and allotment snack and take home their own ‘potato cress head’ to watch grow!
Health and Social Care Tutor Cheryl Hall said: “Students have learnt so much and it has been amazing for them to work on the allotment and then share their learning out in the community. Meeting new people every week has really helped develop their communication skills and highlighted why they chose Health and Social care to study.”
Childcare student Milly Taylor said: “I have really liked everything about the allotment project you get to grow and make things and I have learnt a lot. I will be doing more planting at home from now on.”
Allotment Leader Paul Dee said: ” The new allotment project at North Herts College has quickly developed basic gardening skills among the students who get involved. They have helped to build raised beds, sown seeds, planted out onions, garlic, salads, beans, cauliflower, cabbages and purple sprouting broccoli. This week they have been amazed to see how quickly the herb cuttings they made a couple of months ago have developed roots and are ready for potting on as new plants. It has all been very inspiring.”
