Following an interest in ‘how things grow’, children from West Downs Day Nursery in Winchester were delighted to embark on a special trip to their local garden centre.
During the visit to Hillier Garden Centre, pre-schoolers from the Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ setting on Romsey Road browsed the array of fruit and vegetable seeds on offer, before selecting packets including peppers, tomatoes and runner beans to purchase and take back.
As part of the excursion, children explored a wide variety of flowers, taking time to observe the vibrant colours and enjoy the different aromas. The hands-on outing encouraged discussion and sensory learning, as children compared plants and talked about growth.
Back at the nursery, children were thrilled to plant their seeds in the allotment area, which they will monitor and tend to over the coming months, before harvesting and using in activities and meals to bring their learning full circle from plant to plate.
It is for such activities that West Downs have earnt a prestigious ‘Green Flag with Distinction’, the highest accolade in the internationally recognised Eco-Schools programme, which is awarded for exceptional environmental awareness and conservation practices.
West Downs Deputy Manager, Danni Markwick explained;
“Experiences like this bring learning to life for our children. By giving them the chance to shop, purchase, plant and care for their own produce, we’re helping them develop a real understanding of where food comes from and the importance of looking after the environment. It’s wonderful to see their enthusiasm and sense of responsibility grow.”
