We’ve enjoyed the long summer break and our pre-school is back in business. We’re always sad to see some children leave pre-school and head off to big school, so we wish all those children the best of luck and all the fun during this next stage.

The weather has blessed us for this first week back. We’ve been making the most of it with lots of water play, ice lolly breaks and sitting in the shade.

Children playing in the paddling pool
 
A boy reading his book in the shade

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During the spring and summer months, we tend to our garden and use the sunshine to grow lots of yummy things.

The mint comes back every year and is definitely the most successful plant in the garden. Our raspberry bush has started to spread and has finally given us a handful of raspberries.

We managed a total of 5 potatoes this year too! It isn’t a lot, but they were really exciting to find.

The 5 potatoes we grew

We haven’t been quite as lucky with our strawberries, although there are plenty of leaves!

This year, we planted a new cutting of rosemary, kindly given to us by Dodleston Primary School. This has now taken root and we hope it will give us some lovely purple flowers next year. It may also provide some sprigs for our mud kitchen.

Chives are new this year too, and some of the children enjoying chewing on the stalks.

Our bean crop was much more abundant and the bees love the flowers on them. The children love watching the bees go in and out of the flowers.

Our runner beans at Dodleston Pre-School

Next year, our aim is to plant more food items, and grow enough so that the children can eat what we’ve grown for their snacks. Or they may be able to take some things home for tea. Our next fundraising mission will hopefully provide us with new planters and some things to plant, so keep an eye out on our socials for our next event.

We’re back – and with potatoes!