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Meadowhall helps Tinsley children to grow their own fruit and vegetables

Local pupils have been growing their own organic fruit and vegetables at Tinsley Community Allotment, thanks to a new project being funded by Meadowhall and ran by two local volunteers.

Taken over by volunteers in 2016, the Tinsley Community Allotment features an orchard, ponds, forested garden areas, wild flowers and garden patches. It’s an idyllic and peaceful community hub that is cherished by residents and schools in the local area.

The Meadowhall team regularly offer their services at the allotment, carrying out repairs, building work, gardening and general maintenance. Most recently, a Meadowhall team of volunteers prepared the allotment for winter by raking leaves for compost, planting trees, building drainage pipes and covering pathways.

The sessions helped children from Tinsley Meadows Primary Academy School in Sheffield, to develop a whole host of new green-fingered skills including propagation and seed sowing, soil preparation, weeding, watering and harvesting.

The pupils were encouraged to taste a variety of different vegetables, fruit and herbs, with all the harvested produce shared between the young people, the school and other people visiting the allotment.

The children were also able to enjoy the fresh air as they took part in sessions on the dedicated site, which features raised beds, a polytunnel for greenhouse crops, a forest garden, recycling and compost areas and a pond for wildlife.

Darren Pearce, Centre Director for Meadowhall, said:

“As a leading supporter of the local community and a longstanding partner of the Tinsley Community Allotment, we’re delighted to be funding this project with the assistance of local volunteers. The children will gain some really valuable life skills, as well as having lots of fun getting their hands dirty.”

Last updated Friday 14 July, 2023