Free advisory programme
Schools and childcare locations receive a brief, free on-site advisory programme (maximum 8 hours), enabling them to take a step towards a green(er) schoolyard or outdoor space. The advisory programme is carried out by a ‘Green Hand’. This is an expert in greening schoolyards and school gardening. The advice is tailored to the situation and meets the possibilities and wishes of the school or childcare location. This advice may involve translating an initial sketch into a concrete green schoolyard, encouraging the participation of parents and children, or creating support for greening the outdoor space.
Meet Green Hand Annerie Rutenfrans
One of the Green Hands in Gelderland is Annerie Rutenfrans, who works in the Nijmegen region. What does Annerie do as a Green Hand? Annerie: “I help schools get started with creating a customised school garden that suits the school’s wishes and possibilities. I also prepare a practical plan including materials to purchase, a schedule and a cultivation plan that they can use for a long time.”
One of the recent projects Annerie helped with was a vegetable garden for a primary school in Beek-Ubbergen. What did this project involve? Annerie: “The school had a piece of land near a food forest, close to the school. They wanted to bring the school garden back to life, with duo gardens for the pupils in Year 6. As a Green Hand, I created a cultivation plan with an annual schedule for these duo gardens and supplied planting material in consultation with the parents.”
Alliantie Schooltuinen website
A large number of instructional and teaching materials that teachers can use for school gardening have been collected on the Alliantie Schooltuinen website. This alliance’s mission is to provide access to a school garden. The Alliantie Schooltuinen website also features a network of school garden support providers, so schools can request help there.
Would you like to know more about the Green Hands scheme?
Then contact the Jong Leren Eten broker for an informal, no-obligation conversation. We can discuss your school’s or childcare location’s needs and determine whether this programme is suitable. Or view the Gelderland ‘Green Hands’ scheme here.