Cooking up Connections
"I just wanted to say how much we enjoyed the session on Saturday. Hayley was so lovely and knowledgeable and really welcomed us and made the time fly so quickly! We enjoyed getting stuck in with looking after the veg patches, discovering wildlife and planting the Brussels sprouts!"
Parent on the Cooking up Connections Project.
BYB@Blackrod working alongside Blackrod Primary School has received funding from National Lottery Awards for All Community Fund to deliver community growing and cooking workshops. The sessions are run in partnership with the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside.
We welcome you to take part!
We are sure that as parents and grandparents we may have some keen gardeners and cooks amongst you and we are keen for children to learn from you. This will allow children to learn skills that have been passed down through the family and community and will allow you to continue to grow your own food for years to come, even when living costs are rising. If you would like to take part, we invite children up to the age of 16 years and a parent or grandparent (up to a maximum of two adults) to come along to the sessions. Please email byb@blackrod.bolton.sch.uk to register a place. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Each session is held at Blackrod Primary School on the school grounds. Sessions will continue to take place into early 2024.
During the sessions children are learning about food growing, how to plant, look after and harvest a variety of herbs, fruits, and vegetables. They are learning about where our food comes from, sustainability, and eating a healthy, balanced diet on a budget. There is an opportunity to take seeds and plants away in pots to “grow your own” at home. Children are foraging from established fruit trees and bushes and will have a go at cooking over a campfire using the harvested produce to create tasty dishes. They will learn how these recipes can be adapted to be cooked at home using conventional methods for example, learning how to make apple pie. During the Wednesday sessions, parents are invited to bring a packed lunch on these days.
The project will also act as an opportunity for members of the school community to meet one another, for adults to mentor the children and help the children to have support and build resilience.
All tools and equipment will be provided, and the sessions will culminate in a ‘Community Growing Festival’ which will showcase the skills we have learned and allow us to share our successes with the wider Blackrod community.
Please email byb@blackrod.bolton.sch.uk to register a place.
We look forward to your joining us and look forward to cooking up connections together.
BYB@Blackrod