During the Easter holidays, The Children’s Kitchen were back at The Community Farm hosting groups of children and young people across Bristol for four days. Read on as Jo Ingleby, Head of Food Education at Feeding Bristol and Director of The Children's Kitchen, delves into these wonderful days...
The Children's Kitchen are part of Feeding Bristol and we run food education programmes, growing and exploring food in early years settings and with children and young people during the school holidays. These visits to The Community Farm form part of the Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF), a national holiday programme for children who are eligible for free school meals. In Bristol, this programme is called Your Holiday Hub, and it involves over 60 activity providers running sessions which include creativity, activity, fun and, importantly, food.
Over the summer of 2025, we ran ten days of picking and cooking at The Farm in the peak of the growing season (and the hot weather!), with fields and polytunnels full of produce. Easter offered something different, with the challenge being the colder, rainier weather and being in the middle of the ‘hungry gap’ (the time of year when there is less UK produce available to eat. It's when we've eaten all of the crops that were planted at the end of the summer, but before the spring crops are ready to find their way onto our plates). Despite the challanges we had incredible days! Instead of focusing on picking and cooking, we got busy creating ‘lasagne beds’ (a no-dig layered raised bed) and then planted them with herbs. We also planted potatoes in coffee sacks donated by Wogan Coffee in Bristol. And of course there was the cooking! The children made a delicious lasagne (staying on theme!) using the produce found in The Farm's Farmer’s Choice veg box from that week.
Alongside our team The Farm delivered part of the day also; Mhairi and Ellie led nature-based activities and shared their vast knowledge of the plants and wildlife in the area. This, combined with our cooking, and lots of digging, made for fun-packed and memorable days for everyone.
Being at The Community Farm is a meaningful experience for the children and young people who come. Often, this is the first time they have visited a farm or spent time away from family in a safe rural space. We spend time looking for insects, watching birds, breathing in the fresh air and treasure-hunting for colourful themed natural finds. This is a time for them to relax, engage with nature, and learn where our food comes from…and how good it tastes when it is in season and local!
“Your Holiday Hub Bristol is really pleased to be working with Feeding Bristol and The Community Farm to help children and families enjoy healthy food, learn new skills and connect with growing, cooking and sharing food during the school holidays. These sessions are a brilliant way to bring food education to life and give children experiences they can take home with them.” Florence Greenland, Bristol Your Holiday Hub
We are already planning for the summer sessions and looking forward to bringing some of the groups back to pick the produce they planted at Easter.
Jo Ingleby, Head of Food Education Feeding Bristol, Director of The Children’s Kitchen
Find out more about Your Holiday Hub or Feeding Bristol.
