Growing Communities (GC) encourages young people to eat healthily, understand and learn about food provenance whilst capturing their imaginations. It helps assist with creating links between generations, enabling shared knowledge and promotes working with communities.
Healthy Packed Lunch Plot Competition 2026 Winners announced!
WINNER: Wethersfield Primary School – 'Sizzling Stir Fry'
RUNNER UP: Hazelmere Junior School - 'Rapping Wrap'
Congratulations to the winning schools but also to all the schools that entered.
Competition Time!
BEE Good Competition is now open! 
Whether your school is just starting out or looking to develop an established garden, the Bee Good Competition can help demonstrate the value of gardening, enriching the curriculum, teaching life skills and contributing to children's mental and physical health. This year it is all about the British Bee and how we can help by supporting these mini beasts that are so crucial to our ecosystem. GC is asking our busy bee helpers to create a bee haven for our buzzy little friends to feed, live and prosper.
The competition is open to all primary schools in Essex it is designed to encourage team work with no age categories. We encourage the children to think outside of the box with their design and promote wellness in schools so that children can explore and enjoy the natural world.
GC has some exciting prizes to be won this year including literature for the classroom, Bee Good Hotel and the number one request via our Bee Good Survey that supersedes all other needs is gardening equipment!
First Prize: Classroom literature: Educational books, Bee Good Hotel, Bee Watering Pods and Gardening Equipment
Runner up: Classroom
literature: Educational Books and Bee Good Hotel
Requirements:
The children will need to study and illustrate what plants/flowers bees like and list some key facts, then design a meadow plot fit for the Queen bee herself! A simple design may involve using some old pots/wellies/broken wheelbarrow to transforming an unused part of the school grounds. The children are asked to keep a short diary of the plots creation from beginning to full bloom, this is to ensure this year and going forward each year our Bees have a bountiful surprise waiting for them. Remember the plots will bloom and display wonderful colours and smells ideal for sensory play and wellbeing.
To enter:
Please complete the following 3 minute short survey you will then receive an emailed information pack with full details including Terms and Conditions, and a short diary template for the children to complete which will only be accepted for entries.
Competition closing date is Monday 6th July 2026 - we look forward to receiving diaries brimming with photographs of colourful bee friendly blooms and bee facts!
WARNING: This competition involves, fun, laughter and fresh air.
All schools have been emailed details of the competition further information is available including the Terms and Conditions if you would like a copy please email: elizabeth.rose@essexrcc.org.uk
COMPETITION RESULTS:
Healthy Packed Lunch Plot Competition 2025
GC RESOURCES
GC handy tips page
Recipe ideas (to be updated)
Useful Links:
Food a Fact of Life - Are you the curriculum lead for food in your primary school? Click on the link for the 'Primary food lead online pack'. It includes whole school planning documents, schemes of learning, lesson plans and training for you and your colleagues.
Countryside Trust - Growing resilience in the garden
RHS-A-guide-to-funding-your-school-garden.pdf
Finding funding | Education Nature Park
Grants to support school children with outdoor, hands-on lea
Local Nature Partnership Community Fund 2025 - The Essex Local Nature Partnership
For schools (updated 17/02/2026) – South East Essex Organic Gardeners
