The Roots and Shoots Programme works in partnership with the NHS, delivering sessions to young people from 10 schools in the county of Northumberland, tackling childhood obesity through engaging and valuble sessions.
The Alnwick Garden team and NHS work together to choose 10 schools from applications sent for the enrolment on our programme.
Each successful school is allocated a plot in which to grow their own vegetables through the growing season. Their plot is prepared, seeds are sown and plants are planted.
Schools are provided with their own experienced gardeners who support and nurture their new gardening skills throughout their time on the programme. The intention of teaching gardening skills to students is to encourage a new skill, to give them the ability to be sustainable, to eat more healthily, but to also engage them in an enjoyable and inclusive activity with their peers.
Alongside our gardening activities the NHS provide insightful and educational workshops, providing students with the knowledge as to why they must lead healthier lifestyles. The NHS provide fun, interactive and inclusive activities that are adapted to the needs of all students of all levels of engagement. These include the eat well guide, taste tests, measuring of fats and sugars and the shocking breakfast bar activity!
Due to forecast severe weather this weekend, we've made the difficult decision to amend our opening hours to protect the safety of our visitors, teams and site.
Friday 23 October: Closing at 4pm
Saturday 24 October: Open 10am-2pm. Our Wedding Fair will go ahead as planned, however The Treehouse will be closed all day.
Sunday 25 October: Closed.
Unfortunately, this also means that Spookydorei Nights, evening restaurant bookings in The Treehouse, and all scheduled evening events, including A Traitor Among Us, have been cancelled.
If you have pre-booked tickets, event places or Afternoon Tea reservations, our team will contact you directly by email today with information about your options.
We know this may be disappointing and we'd like to thank you for your understanding. We never take the decision to close lightly, but the safety of our visitors and staff must always come first.
We look forward to welcoming you back very soon.
The Alnwick Garden and Lilidorei Team
