An outside food-growing garden, designed by pupils has been built at Benyon Primary School, South Ockendon.
Capacity building was delivered alongside the creation of the garden to allow teachers to use the space as part of an outdoor classroom.
The garden, which is situated in the heart of the community of the Flowers Estate in South Ockendon aims to connect pupils to the wider natural environment, understand where our food comes from and encourage healthy eating choices with pupils voting on what they would like to grow and eat.
Mollands Lane Sensory Garden and The Flowers Community Group are based on the Flowers Estate in South Ockendon. Working together they deliver social and environmental projects to support the health, wellbeing, and social connectivity of residents to create a strong healthy and resilient neighbourhood.
The two community groups worked together deliver the garden as part of a wider project to bring residents and the community closer together. Thurrock Council enabled the project and partnership, with members of the councils Public Health and Housing team working together to secure the government funding and support delivery.
Fruit and vegetables grown within the garden have been used as part of school meals and on Friday 11 October, students set up a market stall for parents and the local community to buy the food from the autumn harvest; including tomatoes, pumpkins and sweetcorn.
Money raised from the market stall will be spent on seeds and plants for the next season of growing.
Cllr Mark Hooper, Cabinet Member for Health and Well-being, said: "I'm delighted by the response to the community garden space. It has offered a wonderful opportunity to get some of our youngest residents outside and learn about healthy eating.
"Gardening can have such a positive impact on people's mental and physical health. It's fantastic that we were able to secure the government funding to allow this scheme to take place."
Cllr Victoria Holloway, Cabinet Member for Place and Environment, said: "This scheme is a wonderful example of how important our outside environment is to our health and well-being. I’m excited to see this scheme providing our youngest residents with a love for the garden alongside how to create healthy, sustainable choices.
"Thank you to all of the community groups that have enabled the scheme to take place, including Mollands Lane Sensory Garden, which continues to build upon the outstanding voluntary work that won them The King's Award for Voluntary Service."
Samantha Oxley, Headteacher at Benyon Primary School, said: "We were so pleased to be able to provide fresh vegetables for our families during our first market stall.
"The whole experience has been invaluable. We look forward to the coming year of planting and developing the garden."
