Celebrations were well underway at Nene Valley Day Nursery in Cliftonville as families and colleagues gathered for a special Harvest Festival, all whilst raising vital funds for charity.

From creating autumnal artwork at a special arts and crafts station and planting seasonal vegetables in pots, to exploring a pumpkin soup sensory tray and producing sweet treats in their aprons, children from the award-winning setting on Northampton General Hospital Complex were delighted to immerse themselves in all the exciting opportunities on offer.

Outside, pre-schoolers were thrilled to meet local heroes from the Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, who gave captivated children the chance to sit in the fire engine and try on their uniform to promote a better understanding of the important work they do within the community, whilst families also enjoyed judging a scarecrow competition amongst rooms.

During the event, parents also had the chance to browse a range of informative stalls, with professionals including Sam from Sleep Solutions offering practical advice on bedtime routines, as well as Emma from Usborne Books who set up her pop-up book shop, whilst talking about the importance of reading to children from a young age to aid communication.

Thanks to the generosity of both nursery families and colleagues, Nene Valley were able to raise over £300.00 for The Trussell Trust food bank network during the Harvest Festival, which will now help provide emergency food parcels to local people facing hardship.

Nene Valley Team Leader, Elena Brooks explained;

“The Harvest Festival was a fantastic celebration of the season and we were blown away by the enthusiasm and participation of everyone, as well as the kindness shown towards The Trussell Trust. By coming together as a community and contributing to this worthy cause, we are not only teaching our children the values of empathy and compassion, but also making a real impact in the lives of those less fortunate.”