We are the Friends of Mary Howard (FOMH). A small but dedicated PTA group which supports and raises money for our small but mighty school, Mary Howard, in our rural village of Edingale. The charity, FOMH, would like to begin this academic year raising funds to begin work on a growing garden at the school where the children will have the opportunity to grow and flourish whilst making a difference in helping and caring for their environment.

We hope that this planned dedicated outdoor space with a sensory and growing area, will give the children an appreciation of sustainability whilst encouraging them to work as a team taking pride and ownership. The children will develop horticultural skills in which they can take into adulthood. To achieve this we plan that:

• All children will get involved in growing their own produce to then use in their school meals, which are cooked on site. We hope once this is established to then provide local residents with grown garden produce too.
• Children will be able to pause and mindfully relax in a tranquil space which allows them to connect with their environment through all senses-promoting wellbeing.
• The school’s Eco-Club with children from all age groups within the school, will take a key role in decision-making and assist staff with planning activities. 
• The growing area will provide a regular complementary addition to classroom work, where a stimulating and creative learning environment is established in which lies an opportunity for all children to grow and flourish.
• The new area will encourage and foster greater connection with the local community, with access to a playgroup for families who have children of pre-school age and input from the volunteer gardeners from the village.

Our project will create a dedicated growing and sensory space where all children at the school will utilise, enjoy, nurture, and develop lifelong skills. Skills such as thinking of their own ideas to help their local environment – like what they can plant in their gardens and what changes they can make at home to help combat climate change. Skills such as planting pollinators to recycling and composting, the children will learn many different ways we can all help our environment and wildlife. 

Our village partakes in a best kept village competition every year. Currently the main contributors are the older generation. The growing garden will give our younger children an environmental responsibility - promoting  a link with young and old community members who can rely on each other. Therefore developing a thriving team of many generations which is the key to tackle climate change. Our children will aim to set up a produce shop for ‘shop-less village’ locals - resulting in less trips in the car to the nearest ( and sometimes unsustainable) supermarket and ultimately - reducing their carbon footprint. We want to open the area for even younger toddler groups to use as this is where we need to begin awareness of the impacts of climate change and how our behaviours and choices are so important in the success of our local and wider villages.
Our Children will begin our fundraising for this project by walking the length of the Mease river over the month of September 2024! This will be a total of 25km walked by each child over this month! We hope that they challenge themselves and show their fantastic perseverance skills whilst raising money through sponsorship on our 'Aviva Community Page'.