Offord Primary School veg plot and sensory garden

Aim

Offord’s veg plot and sensory garden project aims to grow healthy food, spark curiosity, support wellbeing, and bring the community together

Creating a thriving outdoor learning and wellbeing environment for every child

At Offord Primary School we’re transforming our worn out, unsuitable outdoor garden space into a vibrant vegetable plot and sensory garden that will enrich learning, support wellbeing, and strengthen our healthy eating culture.

What we’re creating

The new vegetable garden will give children from Foundation Stage to Year 6 hands‑on experience of growing, harvesting and using fresh produce in school meals. It will become a practical, inspiring space where pupils learn about nature, sustainability, healthy eating and teamwork.

Alongside the veg plot, a sensory garden with new seating and an outdoor classroom will be created. Planted with uplifting fragrances and interesting textures to deepen our children’s connection with the natural world and provide calming, inclusive spaces for all learners.

Why we need your help

The site is currently an unusable outdoor area with dangerous concrete raised beds, and a worn-out lawn which floods on rainy days. We have a detailed plan to solve the flooding issue and transform the area. We have saved up some funds to start the project off, but we need additional support to gather the materials we need to finish the project.

How you can help

Financial contributions are incredibly important, please consider donating some money to this campaign. If you are part of a community group, consider holding a fundraising event such as a plant sale or jumble sale to help us reach our target.

Businesses, organisations, or groups who would like to get involved could partner with us on the project by making donations of money or materials in return for advertising space in our school newsletter, on our social media and on signage at school.

In-person involvement from the community would be wonderful. We’re planning a planting day after the school holidays when we hope all the infrastructure will be in place. If you love joining in with that, you can soon sign up to join our community gardening club and help maintain the gardens when they are completed.

What to donate

We will arrange two donation days – one for materials, just before the summer break, and one for plants when the new term starts in September. We will then arrange the community planting day to get everything in the ground. To arrange a donation email Robert on [email protected]

Here is a list of materials we would love to receive as donations – 

• Bricks and shingle for pathways
• Railway sleepers or scaffold boards for raised beds    
• Pallets for turning into compost heaps
• Wooden posts
• Child sized gardening tools  
• Bark chippings
• Topsoil
• Landscape fabric

Here is a list of plants we would love to plant. 

• Seeds such as spinach, radish, broad beans, and Pak choi
• Garlic bulbs
• Lavender
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Grasses such as Miscanthus and Stipa Gigantea
• Woodland ferns
• Hostas
• Irises
• Lamb’s ears (Stachys)
• Lemon Balm
• Fennel

If you have these in your garden, could you take cuttings for us? 

What the vegetable garden will include - 

• Raised beds for accessible, structured planting
• Tool store stocked for safe equipment use
• Composting area to teach sustainability
• Water butt for eco‑friendly irrigation
• Accessible paths suitable for all ages and abilities
• Seasonal planting zones linked to the school kitchen

Every element has been designed to maximise learning, safety and long‑term productivity.

The sensory garden will include – 

• An outdoor classroom
• A wilderness play area
• A sandpit
• Log seating
• Bird boxes
• Bug hotels
• Bird feeders

Your donation helps us create a garden that will grow for years to come.

If you have any questions about this project or would like to discuss a sponsorship or partnership opportunity email [email protected] 

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 10th August 2026 at 3:25pm