Growing School was started by the Ranger Service in 2013 as part of the Big Dig campaign, a response to the need for local people to get growing and producing their own food. This education allotment is based at Broadlane allotments in Kings Heath. Ranger Dean delivers sessions on all the things you need to know to get growing. Growing school is a place to learn together, currently 5 families are being supported in the growing and maintenance of plots. Dean also runs an after school club on Wednesdays and during school holidays. The allotment is also used as a show case for others to come and visit. Growing school offers an outreach service across Birmingham to support people entering Birmingham in Bloom, community gardens/projects and new starters on allotments. Often this has been just the help some small projects have needed to give them the confidence to set up and get growing. Growing school has worked with a number of schools and colleges, tailoring sessions to meet the curriculum, creating spaces that are easy to maintain and successfully grow produce. Winning a number of prestigious awards including Silver in Best Community Vegetable Patch in Birmingham in Bloom 2014, Growing school’s hard work and dedication are paying off. Food security is a real issue for many families in Brum as well as globally, so being able to act locally and learn how to produce food is empowering, cost effective and fun. Growing school is growing community resilience.

Dean Paul can be contacted by e mail:
[email protected]