Patch Progress
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Castle Kids Patch is just getting started! Our children’s allotment is under construction- get in touch to help!
Tuesday 1st July
We were lucky enough to be featured in Charles Dowdings Future Gardeners Newsletter this month, please see ahead for the article printed:
Hi Future Gardeners!
I’m Dusk, the Patch Co-Ordinator from Castle Kids’ Patch CIC in Somerset. We launched our project in February 2025, and it has blossomed into a thriving allotment space for local children and the wider community.
We’re lucky to be close to the incredible Skool Beanz, which inspired our project right from the start! Lara from Skool Beanz is a true force of nature - kind, generous, and inspiring. She’s even donated a perfect little polytunnel to help get us growing! Lara hosts adult course days, where I learnt so much about setting up a children’s gardening club.
We initially started in connection with our local school, but after our fundraising activities and general community support proved to be exceedingly successful, it became clear we needed to get more organised. That meant opening a bank account! I proposed transitioning the project into a Community Interest Company (CIC), which would allow us to be a standalone organisation with its own structure.
Surprisingly, setting up the CIC was much simpler than I expected. The online application was straightforward and only required a small fee. The only hurdle was that CICs are advised to have a majority of unrelated directors, so I reached out to our local community. Thankfully two incredible individuals stepped up, and they’ve since become brilliant additions to our team!
Now that we’re a CIC, and I’m DBS-checked and First Aid certified, I can run clubs outside of school hours - which has taken things to the next level!
We’ve raised a fantastic amount of funds through our local community. We’ve run a school Spring Fair and held a stall at our village May Fair, where we sold crafts made by the children and plants (a great excuse to over-sow seeds!). We’ve also been active on social media which has connected us with local businesses and encouraged community donations.
Right now, we host a weekly after-school club but we have just launched our summer holiday clubs too which will extend our reach. The children are so enthusiastic and curious. Watching them get excited about a pea pod or a blooming sweet pea is honestly the highlight of my week. We’ve had children who’d never try certain foods happily munch on spinach straight from the plant - much to their parents’ surprise! One child even began the session saying, “I don’t like gardening, it’s boring,” and left saying, “I’m going to grow my favourite food at home - TOMATOES!” It’s these little moments that remind me how vital it is to offer children these experiences. It truly opens up a whole new world for them.
Some Top Tips from Me:
Some Top Tips from Me:
● Find your people: Put the word out on social media that you’re starting a children’s gardening club. Tag your local adults’ gardening clubs or parent groups, maybe ask your local school to send it out to their parent’s list. Ask anyone interested in getting involved to get in touch.
● Show examples: I shared lots of pictures from Skool Beanz with our local gardening club and school to show the potential of a project like this.
● Reach out to local businesses: Many businesses are keen to support initiatives like ours because it aligns with their community values. A well-written proposal goes a long way, so don’t be afraid to ask for donations!
● Getting kids engaged: Don’t force it. Some children might be unsure at first, and that’s totally fine. I like to set up a few different activity stations: a craft table, some gardening jobs with me (like planting or seed sowing), a couple of nature-themed books, and something more physical like moving woodchip. That way, there’s something for every kind of energy and interest. In my experience, once they’ve had time to explore, most kids naturally wander over to see what’s going on with the planting. And if you’re stuck, ask them to water the plants. I’ve yet to meet a child who doesn’t love using a watering can!
Thursday 5th June
A Huge Patch Update! What a transformation!
Thanks to an incredible amount of hard work from our directors and volunteers, especially Martin Eastment who has spent countless hours making this happen, we have now built, filled, and even planted up 12 beds.
This is such an exciting milestone for Castle Kids' Patch and it really brings the project to life.
The children from our Patch Pals gardening club have been busy sowing and growing tomatoes, peas, kohlrabi, spinach, radishes, dwarf beans, beetroot, carrots, and more. In their sessions they planted everything out into the beds and they look absolutely fantastic.
A huge thank you to everyone who is helping make this amazing project a reality. We are growing something really special together.
-Dusk and the Castle Kids' Patch Team
Monday 26th May
We had a brilliant time at the May Fayre. Thank you so much to the organisers for giving us a plot, it was a fantastic chance to share what Castle Kids' Patch is all about.
We ran a free sunflower planting activity for children and it was non-stop. So many young gardeners took part and proudly took their sunflower pots home to grow. We have invited families to share photos of their sunflowers as they grow and there will be a prize for the tallest one later in the season!
Our main goal for the day was to raise awareness of the project and let people know how they can join in. But we also raised £72.65 through donations and the sale of our handmade garden crafts, including plant labels and cane toppers. Every penny will go straight back into running Castle Kids' Patch.
We were blown away by the support from the community. Thank you to everyone who stopped by, planted a seed, made a donation or simply showed interest in what we are doing. It means the world.
-Dusk & The Castle Kids' Patch Team
Tuesday 29th April
What a brilliant day we had at the Castle Primary School Spring Fair!
A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by whether you bought a plant, had an ice cream, or simply cheered us on! With your support, we raised £283.47 for the Patch, which will go directly towards seeds, compost, and materials to help our young gardeners keep growing!
Our fair was full of colour and excitement, with plants lovingly raised by the Patch Pals, a lucky dip for the kids, and homemade garden-themed goodies. It was wonderful to meet so many parents, carers, and community members curious about the Patch and the work the children will be doing.
Special thanks to all the volunteers who helped us set up and run the stall. Your enthusiasm makes all the difference.
If you'd like to get involved, you’re always welcome to join us at our Friday Volunteer Mornings
Here’s to sunshine, seedlings, and growing together 🌱
– Dusk & the Castle Kids Patch Team
Wednesday 2nd April
A huge thank you to the amazing team of volunteers from Natwest who joined us today at Castle Kids’ Patch! Your hard work tackling the compost area and those stubborn ivy roots has made such a difference!
We’re so grateful for your support in helping us create a special space for the children to grow and learn!
– Dusk & the Castle Kids Patch Team
Monday 24th March
A huge thank you to local villager Ashley, who brought his lovely old red tractor to the Castle Kids' Patch and kindly rotavated the entire plot! What was once a weedy, uneven patch of ground is now completely transformed, ready for the next stage of our growing journey.
It’s amazing what a difference a few hours (and the right machinery) can make. Ashley’s generosity and hard work have saved us days of digging, and we couldn’t be more grateful.
With the soil now turned and ready, the real fun begins - planting season is just around the corner!
– Dusk & the Castle Kids Patch Team
Tuesday 18th March
A huge thank you to True Tree Care Yeovil for their generous donation of a large pile of woodchip for the Castle Kids Patch! This will make a real difference in creating safe and sturdy paths around the allotment.
Of course, a pile of woodchip doesn’t move itself! Another hardworking group of volunteers spent the afternoon shifting. It was no small task, but with plenty of determination, we got the job done.
We’re so grateful for the generosity and effort that keeps this project growing—thank you to True Tree Care Yeovil and to everyone who lent a hand!
– Dusk & the Castle Kids Patch Team
Sunday 16th March
This week, a brilliant team of volunteers tackled one of the toughest jobs at the Castle Kids Patch - digging out deep-rooted weeds ahead of the tractor and rotavator arriving next week. With plenty of hard work (and a few aching muscles), they cleared the worst of the weeds to make sure the ground is in the best possible shape for the next stage.
It wasn’t easy, but with plenty of teamwork and determination, they got the job done. A huge thank you to everyone who came along and put in the effort - your hard work is what keeps this project moving forward!
Next week, the tractor takes over, and we can’t wait to see the difference it makes.
– Dusk & the Castle Kids Patch Team
Saturday 8th March
On Saturday our dedicated volunteers completely cleared the stubborn ivy that had been choking the hedge, giving it the space and light it needed to thrive again. It was a tough job, but the difference is amazing!
Next, we’re gearing up for another volunteer day on Sunday, 16th March, to clear the whole patch of weeds and rubble - getting it ready for the mini tractor and rotavator arriving the following week. If you can spare some time, we’d love your help! Get in touch to volunteer!
– Dusk & the Castle Kids Patch Team
Sunday 2nd March
Today marked a big step forward at the Castle Kids' Patch as we cleared the last remnants of the old shed and leftover wood with a bonfire. With the space now fully cleared, we can finally start preparing the ground- ready for the children to get stuck in and begin planting! It’s an exciting moment as we move towards groundwork for growing, and we can’t wait to see the first seeds go in!
– Dusk & the Castle Kids Patch Team
Sunday, 23rd February 2025
It was a big day for Castle Kids' Patch team! Despite the mud, wind, and rain our incredible volunteers came together to clear the site, making way for the next exciting phase of our children's allotment.
Armed with gloves, tools, and plenty of determination we tackled the piles of rubbish and recycling leaving the Patch looking clear. The biggest challenge of the day? Taking down the old, collapsing shed! With a good bit of teamwork we managed to dismantle it safely.
A huge thank you to everyone who braved the weather to help out. Your hard work is what makes this project possible, and we’re so proud of what we’ve achieved together. The Patch is now ready for the next steps - watch this space!
– Dusk & the Castle Kids Patch Team
Friday 14th Feburary 2025
Big plans in the making! The Castle Kids’ Patch team met to prepare for our big Patch Clear Day next week. There’s a lot to tidy up - an old shed, overgrown corners - but we can already see the magic waiting to happen! Excited for a fresh start and a thriving space for the kids. Who’s ready to get stuck in?
– Dusk & the Castle Kids Patch Team
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