Students from Torquay Academy have raised enough funds to enable Occombe Farm to replace the covering of a polytunnel in their community garden. The students, part of the Academy’s Kitson house, carried out a series of events over two years and were recently able to visit the fruits of their labour.
Occombe Farm is part of Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust, who are the Kitson house’s nominated charity. This is particularly appropriate as William Kitson, whom the house is named after, was known as ‘the maker of Torquay’ and responsible for the design of many of its green spaces.
The refurbished polytunnel at Occombe Farm means that vegetables can be grown in a controlled environment and used in the Farm’s café as well as ‘Field to Fork’ a project promoting locally sourced produce. In addition, the polytunnel provides an educational space for other local schools including Mayfield and Combe Pafford who visit Occombe on a weekly basis to learn about environmental issues.
During their visit the students were able to learn about the benefits of a polytunnel and had the opportunity to sow the first seeds that would grow there. All students had a very positive experience summarised by student Faye Cassidy:
“It was a great experience and I loved learning about the different uses of polytunnels.”
Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust is a conservation charity that cares for over 1,700 acres of green spaces in Torbay including Cockington Country Park, Berry Head National Nature Reserve, as well as beautiful woodlands, meadows and coastline. The Trust relies on funding such as donations and grants so it can continue its vital conservation work for everyone, for ever.
To find out more about Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust’s educational offering visit School Visits – Education – Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust (countryside-trust.org.uk)
