Jo’s Story
“Grow & Play is very important because children learn things through play, especially outside play.”
I always thought allotments were for older people but Grow & Play at PLOT 22 is an opportunity for adults and their pre-school aged children to experience garden life. It’s nice to see younger people get involved. Children are able to see nature, harvest fruit and vegetables, and investigate pond life and out-of-town life here. We don’t have a garden and around here lots of people live in flats - parks are lovely but I enjoy giving my daughter the opportunity to experience nature in a different way.
We started going about 15 months ago. I took my two girls but it’s mainly my middle daughter now and we try to go every month. My husband has come too. Everyone’s really friendly and it’s easy to chat to people because it’s a relaxed environment. First time parents can feel shy and so when new people come we say our names and how old our children are. At the beginning of a session, there is a circle time and Louise, sings a song and everyone joins in. It’s a happy atmosphere!
Louise shows parents and children where things are on the plot, and then half the group go pond dipping and the other half explore before they swap. The children run around, interested in what’s going on whilst the parents watch them at the water and help with craft activities and washing-up. At the end of the session the group comes together with another sing of the song and a review of what people did.
My daughter gets excited when we tell her she’s coming! She’s just turned three so trying new things is important. She loves being outside and having the opportunity to get muddy! Both girls love going to their cousins’ in Hastings and having the paddling pool in the garden because that’s something we can’t do.
Grow & Play is very important because children learn things through play, especially outside play. I used to be a Nursery Nurse and children experience more being outside. They love it. Louise runs the sessions in all weathers and they can get their hands dirty! It definitely helps being outside, especially if you’re used to being cooped up. It also helps with wellbeing. The sensory aspect is good too and the children can go anywhere in the plot. My daughter’s been getting more fussy with food so actually picking things off the vine and seeing everyone else do the same makes her try it more!
I’d love to have a plot myself. It would be amazing to grow herbs and food. An allotment gets you cooking more - if you have lots of courgettes, you look for lots of different recipes! I think spaces like this are very important.
As told to Vaska Trajkovska November 2019