At Claygate Primary School, our allotment plays a central role in the children's learning throughout the year, providing valuable lessons on planning, nurturing, and harvesting crops. Children actively participate in choosing which plants to grow, from strawberries in the spring to potatoes, raspberries, lettuce, courgettes, tomatoes, and more throughout the summer and autumn. Their efforts are rewarded with a bountiful harvest, including our famous Christmas potatoes and vegetables, which often supplement our Christmas lunch!

The CPS Apple Orchard adds another exciting dimension to the children's learning, boasting a variety of apple trees, including the local Claygate Pearmain. The children delight in the apple harvest, incorporating the fruit into Science and Design Technology projects. Any surplus fruit is shared with our animals, making it a truly sustainable practice.

Gardening Prefects:

Our gardening programme is supported by the expertise of the Claygate Gardening Society, whose members offer guidance and advice throughout the year. Our Gardening Prefects play an essential role in maintaining the allotments. These students take responsibility for planting, watering, and harvesting crops, ensuring that the allotments are well-kept. Their involvement provides them with practical gardening skills, a deeper appreciation for sustainability, and a strong connection to the environment. They learn about the growing process, seasonal changes, and the vital role of environmental care.

Pet Prefects:

Our Pet Prefects are responsible for the care and well-being of the animals on site. They ensure the animals are fed, watered, and that their living areas are clean and comfortable. The children take great pride in looking after our hens, each named after one of our House Teams, with a coloured ankle bracelet for easy identification. The Pet Prefects also collect the fresh eggs from the hens, deciding whether to use them in class cooking activities or take them home to enjoy with their families.

In addition to the hens, our guinea pigs provide further opportunities for children to develop empathy and learn about animal care and responsibility.

The work on our allotment and the care of our animals contribute to the children's overall well-being, fostering a love of nature and a sense of responsibility that will stay with them for years to come.