Last month before half-term our wonderful Enrichment Team gave students across sites the opportunity to pot their own plant. There was a variety of choice from chilli seeds, venus fly traps, rosemary, basil, thyme, and even lettuce.

With well over 100 students taking part, the activity was a success that gave students the chance to pot their own plant and take it away in a terracotta pot (for those that might not have gardening space) or a bio-degradable environmentally friendly pot, that could be planted in a garden.

The Enrichment Team delivered this activity as part of sustainability week to provide students with the experience of growing something from seed, to look it after it, and watch it grow.

An Eastbourne student said, “Planting the seeds was a pleasant and yet calming experience. I was greeted by friendly members of staff who showed me which seeds I could have. I planted into the pot and I was handed some easy to follow instructions. On top of all that they gave me some free gardening gloves to take home along with the plant and the instructions. Now I look forward to one day picking some exquisite chillies from my new chilli plant”.

Gardening is great for many reasons as it helps nature, you can grow your own food and a variety of herbs that can help health and wellbeing, and it’s also great for mental health. Gardening as a team is even better as you can socialise as you sew and talk about your wonderful plants.

We hope we have inspired students to continue with the gardening bug and are looking at offering further green fingered opportunities in the future.