Organic September down on the QE allotment!

They may have won a prestigious environmental award, but QE’s army of gardeners are showing no signs of resting on their laurels.

This month is the Soil Association’s Organic September – and pupils are playing their part in supporting nature by getting busy with early-autumn jobs on the School’s new plot in the Byng Road community allotments.

The allotment and the boys’ organic approach to raising produce are in line with QE’s commitment to nurture pupils in becoming sustainability-literate and community-orientated – two of the six priorities in the Boundless School Plan. The School’s sustainability programme encourages the boys to think globally, while taking positive action locally.

Assistant Head (Co-curricular & Partnerships) Crispin Bonham-Carter, who heads the QE Flourish co-curricular programme, said: “It’s only been a few months since we started work at the allotment, but we quickly progressed from Level 1 to Level 2 in the Royal Horticultural Society’s School Gardening Awards.

“More recently, we won the Eco-Schools Green Flag, with Distinction – a fitting tribute to the hard work of Maths teacher & QE Futures co-ordinator Nadeem Kydd, of Head of Biology Gillian Ridge, and of her Biology colleague & QE Flourish tutor Sam Acors, whose enthusiasm and commitment have been key to the success of the project.”

The allotment, which was central to the granting of the Green Flag, has become a living classroom. Through practical, hands-on activities, pupils are learning about community growing, biodiversity, organic food production, plastic pollution, and other key environmental issues.

Having already gathered in a harvest including potatoes, carrots, courgettes, chilli, tomatoes and marrows, this term they will be getting ready for spring by flattening the ground, preparing beds, and removing unwanted plants, while also planting some winter crops, such as onions and garlic.

The Green Flag award recognises QE’s commitment to sustainability and environmental education. To secure it, the School completed the Eco-Schools Seven Steps framework, an internationally recognised programme that empowers young people to lead environmental initiatives in their schools, local communities and beyond.

The RHS Level 2 award came with a £50 National Garden Gift Voucher, which will help support the continued development of the allotment and expand opportunities for outdoor learning.

For further information on Organic September, click here.

• Click on the thumbnails to view the images, where Dr Acors (among the sunflowers) and Mr Kydd are pictured showing some of the produce.