Students raise funds for community farm

Polytunnels help vegetable production

Pupils from a Torbay school have raised enough funds to enable a community farm to replace the covering of a polytunnel vegetables can be grown in a controlled environment.

The students, from Torquay Academy’s Kitson house, carried out events over two years and have now seen the fruits of their labour.
 
Occombe Farm is part of Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust, which is the their house’s nominated charity. William Kitson, whom the house is named after, was known as ‘the maker of Torquay’ and responsible for the design of many of its green spaces.
 
Food grown under the polytunnel is used in the farm’s café as well as part of a ‘Field to Fork’ project promoting locally sourced produce. IIt alsol provides an educational space for other local schools including Mayfield and Combe Pafford who visit Occombe on a weekly basis to learn about environmental issues.
 
During their visit the students were able to learn about the benefits of a polytunnel and had the opportunity to sow the first seeds that would grow there. All students had a very positive experience summarised by student Faye Cassidy: “It was a great experience and I loved learning about the different uses of polytunnels.”
 
Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust is a conservation charity that cares for over 1,700 acres of green spaces in Torbay including Cockington Country Park, Berry Head National Nature Reserve, as well as beautiful woodlands, meadows and coastline. The Trust relies on funding such as donations and grants so it can continue its vital conservation work for everyone, for ever.