About the programme
Growing Together, Cooking Together is a hands-on, six-month programme designed to empower Primary 6 pupils to start and care for their own school garden while learning valuable skills in horticulture, food preparation, sustainability, and teamwork. This unique programme encourages pupils to take responsibility for their environment by planning, planting, and managing their garden, while also preparing meals using the food they grow.
Throughout the programme, pupils will participate in series of workshops at Dumfries House and at their school, where they will develop skills in gardening and food preparation, as well as how to be more sustainable. One of the key goals is for pupils to pass on their knowledge to the next class, fostering cross-class collaboration and encouraging teamwork beyond their year group. By the end of the programme, pupils will have the opportunity to showcase their achievements through a celebration lunch for family, friends, and the school community.
“Children were all very keen gardeners and loved the kitchen experiences and learning how to properly prepare and make food. Equally they enjoyed the celebration of food where they cared for every need of their guests. They were also keen to harvest their crops and take food home.”
Teacher, Growing Together Cooking Together 2025
Programme structure
Spring 2026: Pupils will begin the programme by starting their own school garden, learning how to design, plant, and care for it.
Summer 2026: They will continue to care for their garden, developing their gardening skills and seeing their plants grow.
Autumn 2026: Pupils will prepare for and host a celebration lunch, where they will serve meals made from the produce they’ve grown and share their experiences with their parents and the wider school community. They will also be encouraged to pass on their gardening and cooking skills to the next class,
ensuring the knowledge is shared and the garden continues to thrive.
Skills development
Horticulture: Pupils will start and care for their own school garden, learning how to grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
Food Preparation: Pupils will learn to cook meals with the produce they’ve grown, from soups to baked goods.
Teamwork & Leadership: Pupils will work together to manage their garden, plan meals, and organize a celebration event, developing leadership and teamwork skills.
Sustainability: Pupils will learn sustainable gardening practices, including waste reduction and making eco-friendly choices.
Cross-Class Collaboration: Pupils will have the opportunity to share their knowledge and skills with the next year’s class, creating a culture of learning and collaboration between year groups.
Eligibility and how to apply
Participating groups will begin the project in P6 and finish in P7 with an ideal group size of 18-22.
Schools can apply using our online form.
Applications close on 20th January 2026.
