Outdoor learning continues to flourish at Addington Valley Academy
There’s been plenty to celebrate at Addington Valley Academy as our outdoor learning programme continues to go from strength to strength, bringing together sustainability, wellbeing and hands-on learning for our students.
One of the biggest milestones came recently when students proudly harvested around 100 homegrown potatoes from the Academy’s flourishing garden.
What began as a few seeds and a patch of grass has grown into a thriving vegetable garden, producing potatoes, radishes and a growing variety of fruit and vegetables that will be used in cooking lessons. Students will have the opportunity to prepare meals using ingredients they have helped to plant, nurture and harvest themselves.
The project has only been possible thanks to the incredible commitment of Farmer Jo, Alison, Renata, their dedicated teams and, of course, our fantastic students, whose enthusiasm and hard work have transformed the outdoor space throughout the year.
Despite working through some exceptionally hot weather, everyone has continued to care for the garden, creating a sustainable growing space that not only reduces food miles but also helps students develop valuable life skills and a greater understanding of where food comes from.
The excitement on harvest day was clear to see as students uncovered potatoes from the soil for the very first time.
Farmer Jo said:
“What started as a few seeds and a bare patch of grass is now flourishing with a wonderful variety of vegetables and fruits. It has been amazing to watch it grow, and reaching the milestone of harvesting around 100 potatoes was incredibly rewarding. The students’ faces as they uncovered them from the soil were absolutely fantastic. It truly puts the fun into learning, creating a real sense of achievement while encouraging them to try new things and helping them understand where their food comes from and how it is grown.”
The celebrations didn’t stop there. AVA has also welcomed two new additions to the farm family – Spring and Hop, two beautiful White-faced Woodland Therapy Sheep.
The pair have settled in brilliantly and are already proving popular with students, providing calm, therapeutic interactions and creating even more opportunities for outdoor learning and wellbeing.
Projects like these demonstrate how outdoor learning can support students’ confidence, teamwork, independence and emotional wellbeing, while helping them build a meaningful connection with nature and sustainability.
We are incredibly proud of everything our students and staff have achieved this year and look forward to seeing our sustainability and outdoor learning initiatives continue to flourish.
