Education, Wimborne | Posted on October 7th, 2024 | return to news
Pamphill pupils invited to pick apples
Pupils from Pamphill First School enjoyed the chance to help harvest this year’s crop of fruit at Kingston Lacy.
Pamphill First School pupils had a great time picking apples at Kingston Lacy recently.
Children from Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 learnt all about the different varieties of apples that are grown at the estate and how the National Trust uses the fruit.
Before the trip, pupils were taught about the difference between deciduous and evergreen trees and were challenged to look for clues as to whether the apple trees were deciduous or not.
At the orchard, they could detect the changing leaf colours and that there were leaves on the ground. One child said she saw a leaf floating down from an apple tree while she was in the orchard.
Staff at Kingston Lacy invited the Pamphill pupils to pick an apple off a tree and take a bite. They were delighted that they had come to visit, saying that not many children get to visit an orchard these days.
The gardener explained how some apples are for eating, some are for cooking and some varieties are for both.
The children were taught the right technique for picking the apples and how to look for mini beasts that might be on the fruit. They then filled wheelbarrows and crates with apples to help stock up the store at the orchard garden.
Each child also went home with several apples and there were lots of discussions about apple pies and crumbles.
While they were there, the Pamphill pupils also saw the wide range of pumpkins that had just been harvested from the gardens at Kingston Lacy and the Reception class ended the afternoon with a Brussels sprout hunt to find this vegetable growing alongside the rhubarb.
Sharon Staddon, executive headteacher of Pamphill First School, which is part of Initio Learning Trust, said: “The children had a fantastic time at Kingston Lacy and thoroughly enjoyed helping to harvest the apples – what an amazing afternoon at this beautiful location just a short walk from our school.
“It was wonderful to see the children working together as a group to gather the fruit.
“Seeing how the orchards play a role in the local biodiversity ties in with our curriculum topics and helps the children to see how they can care for the world around them.
“Thank you to the staff at Kingston Lacy who made the day such a memorable trip.”
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