Schools supported in garden growth

STUDENTS and teachers at two of the region’s primary schools are being supported in their green-thumbed activities with help from Hesse Rural Health.

Earlier this year, Rokewood and Shelford primary schools both received $500 from the health service’s inaugural Healthy Schools with Hesse grant program.

Delivered through the healthy communities team, Hesse’s health promotion officer Hannah Walker said the initiative is about supporting schools in their catchment to better themselves.

“Food environments, active food and travel, mental health and wellbeing, reducing smoking and vaping, or climate and health…were the areas they had to address,” she said.

Both schools met the funding criteria under the food environments category, with Shelford Primary’s cash to go towards a worm farm.

The Rokewood Primary School community is using their funds to add to their established garden which includes seedlings, new plants, and a worm farm.

Planting at Rokewood began earlier this month after the school received the money at the end of last term, and teacher Michelle Anderson said an improved garden will benefit the students’ learning.

“The garden’s a huge asset,” she said. “It gets a lot of kids out of the classroom who find more success outside and it gives them something they can write about, talk about, cook with.

“It all integrates into the curriculum. The expansion’s going to mean lots more plantings, regular class time in the garden, and each grade will have an ownership of a garden bed too.”

Ms Walker said it’s likely the funding program will return next year, and that the current recipients will continued to be supported.

“Because Rokewood was one of the successful applicants, that means we’ll work with them throughout the year to support them in revitalising their garden and how that can grow with the school,” she said.