Here’s what some of the children from Birchwood Junior School had to say, when I asked them to imagine: what would “Good Food Birchwood” be like?
You’re going to love their ideas!
They talked of greenhouses and food-growing on the school site, and a school shop selling all different kinds of fruit and vegetables in season.
One child asked for healthy food to be presented in a way that is more appealing – I don’t find it at all hard to bring to mind some examples of what she means, do you?
Another child asked for free meals for children during the holidays, especially for those who have free meals in school. She has a point. School holidays should be the time for a free and happy childhood, picnics and playing, not for hunger and poor nourishment.
How about a community garden or orchard on every street? Lincoln is a growing city – now is the moment to design in such delicious amenities.
One child asked for a choice of spaghetti sauce – we all have taste-preferences. Digging a little deeper, this turned out to be a story about her Mum’s home-cooked pasta sauce, which was her favourite!

Birchwood Junior School is well ready for the visions of their pupils – with a recently planted orchard, and a recent win at the Lincolnshire Show schools’ challenge for their gorgeous and buzzing nature garden, thanks to the energy and dedication of teachers and pupils together.
They are also lucky to be right on the doorstep of the incredible landscape-level nature recovery and mature kitchen gardens at Doddington – the biggest obstacle to accessing it is getting a bus for that short distance!
I talk all the time with other grown-ups about how important research on food systems can translate into meaningful action on the ground here in Lincoln, relevant to our communities, desired and designed locally.
It’s inspiring to draw on the wild and rich imagination and aspirations of the next generation.
They just need the grown ups of Lincoln and beyond – policy-makers, urban planners and local heroes – to make their dreams possible.

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