Edible Playground

Our Edible Playground & Chickens at St Mark’s

Our Edible Playground offers children a lively, multi-sensory way to learn about growing and eating healthy food. As well as the physical health benefits of eating well, outdoor learning is proven to boost mental health by improving mood, confidence and self-esteem.

Children plant and grow vegetables from seed, nurturing them through each stage before harvesting and using them in their cooking at school. Many areas of the curriculum — including science, art and PSHE — are brought to life through activities in the Edible Playground.

This year we expanded our outdoor learning further through a whole-school science project on life cycles. We hatched eggs in school, watched the chicks grow, and as we have kept chickens for many years now, we decided to keep them as a permanent part of St Mark’s life. Caring for the chickens gives children first-hand experience of animal behaviour, responsibility, and food production and we are lucky to have many dedicated parent volunteers who also help care for them.