Brookwood shows that the Planet Matters

More than 35,000 pupils joined the caterer on June 5 to celebrate best environmental practice and understand the importance of protecting the planet.

During the day teams across the country delivered assemblies highlighting the company’s numerous environmental programmes, put on their wellington boots to help pupils create a school garden (complete with wormeries) and produce an all-British menu.

Having received such positive feedback from the caterer’s inaugural event in 2013, Planet Matters Day has become an annual activity in the Brookwood calendar. Managing Partner, Kate Martin says: "With so many of our clients and catering teams embracing last year’s activity, we decided to make the event an annual occurrence. We were also delighted to have won several industry awards as a result of the first company-wide Planet Matters Day. I am really proud of all our teams who have once again pulled out all the stops to engage pupils with activities both in the dining room and across the school curriculum.”

Highlights from the day include pupils from Lichfield Cathedral School developing their school garden and planting an apple tree. Further trees will also be planted from funds raised from cake sales. Head of Junior Years, Joanna Churton, says: “Brookwood’s Planet Matters Day is a fantastic demonstration of how caterer and school can work together in educating our pupils. Our first tree has been planted in the orchard and will grow as the pupils grow. As well as helping the children understand where their food comes from, their involvement with the School Garden will be a permanent reminder of how we can all play a part in protecting the planet.”

A number of pupils at Falcons School For Boys joined the catering team and put on their gardening gloves to set up a mobile greenhouse in the playground. With the pupils maintaining the greenhouse as part of their ‘Gardening Club’, produce will be used by the Chef Manager in the kitchen, further highlighting where their food comes from. Headteacher Gordon Milne says: “As with many schools that are based in town, outside space can often be limited. The new greenhouse is a perfect opportunity to help educate our pupils in knowing where their food comes from. I for one am looking forward to seeing the produce grown by our Gardening Club, appearing on the menu!”

www.brookwoodpartnership.com