New Flavour School Initiative

HRH is not the only high profile visitor to our Kitchen Garden in recent weeks. Falkirk MSP, Michael Matheson also came along in his constituency role to hear more about our healthy eating and sensory awareness initiatives.

Mr Matheson heard all about the new ‘Flavour school’ plans from our partners at Forth Environment Link and pronounced it “a fantastic initiative”.

Schools from across the area will be invited in to learn more about healthy eating and how different senses are just part of being an individual. Some like sweet, some like sour, some can see, some can hear but we are all the same underneath.

Mr Matheson added: “I’m really impressed. It is a great project helping to encourage young people to try new and different types of healthy foods all grown in a dedicated area at the centre with various sensory issues in mind.

“The centre is utilising the produce grown in its cafe too which is fantastic as it means the food goes straight from the garden to the plate.”

The project, run in partnership with Forth Environment Link and funded by Falkirk Council and the Central Scotland Green Network Fund, enjoyed a successful summer pilot with children from Windsor Park School.

Emily Harvey of FEL said all the youngsters who took part had fun and learned new things. “The focus of the lessons was very much on how everyone is different and how some people perceive the world in different ways.

“By the end of the classes we noticed changes in the variety of the food the children were eating, especially more fruit and veg.

“As well as helping to develop their palates, the classes also helped them to increase literacy relating to food.”