U.K.'s largest school kitchen garden created in MK

Volunteers planted an orchard of 24 half‑standard fruit trees and moved over two tonnes of topsoil into a new polytunnel at Lift Sir Herbert Leon in Milton Keynes, creating what organisers describe as the U.K.'s largest school kitchen garden.

A large volunteer effort on Saturday, 21 February established a new kitchen garden and orchard at Lift Sir Herbert Leon in Milton Keynes. Volunteers planted an orchard and prepared growing space in a newly built polytunnel. The project is presented as the U.K.'s largest school kitchen garden and is connected to a wider goal of outdoor learning and fresh food for the school community. Funding and support were provided by Lift Schools, the Educational Wealth Fund, the NHS Health Inequalities Fund and the MK Community Foundation. Key details: - Date: planting took place on Saturday, 21 February. - Orchard: 24 half‑standard fruit trees were planted, including cherries, plums, pears and apples. - Polytunnel: more than two tonnes of topsoil were moved into a new polytunnel for growing crops such as pumpkins, lettuces and tomatoes. - Management: the project is overseen by the Friends of the SHL Kitchen Garden volunteer group, which meets on Saturdays to work on the site. - Support: the Educational Wealth Fund and local partners helped fund and plan the project. Summary: The garden is intended as a hands-on outdoor learning space and a source of fresh produce for families in the school's community. Volunteers and partner organisations will continue to maintain and develop the site as a long-term resource for students and the local area.