For many of the students arriving at Overtown Manor each week, growing a carrot or picking a strawberry straight from the plant is something they’ve never experienced before.
Now, thanks to the Pick, Cook and Eat charity, those simple moments are helping to build confidence, independence and healthier lifestyles for young people with additional needs.
The initiative, based at Overtown Manor near Wroughton, began almost by accident.
Nancy Lawson, the fourth generation of her family to live at the farm, had hosted Horizons College students on work experience for more than a decade. When the college lost access to its vegetable garden after the pandemic, she offered them space to help in hers.
“I didn’t quite realise what I’d agreed to!” she laughed.
Eight students arrived with eight support workers, and what started as a gardening session has since grown into a registered charity, where young people learn to grow seasonal fruit and vegetables before taking them into the kitchen to cook healthy meals.
Nancy said the project is built around one simple philosophy.
“Eating well to feel well.”
As a trained cook and farmer’s daughter, she believes many children have become disconnected from where food comes from.
“I know that a lot of children now don’t know where fruit and veg, milk and things come from. By coming here they can learn that and see it first hand.”
She added:
“Some children don’t get the opportunity to get out, get their hands dirty and do these things. That’s why it’s hugely important.”
Rather than relying on ultra processed food, students learn how eating seasonal produce creates a more varied diet and healthier relationship with food. But the project has had to adapt to meet the very different needs of its students.
Head gardener Lucille explained that every part of the garden has been designed with accessibility in mind.
New raised beds make planting easier for students who struggle to bend down, while a donated polytunnel means activities can continue throughout the winter.
“The students come every week in wind, rain and snow,” she said.
“We grow everything organically as best we can. Some students might not be able to do every part of the growing process, but they can pick the vegetables, taste them and experience new things.”
She believes those experiences cannot be replicated by buying food from a supermarket.
“I’ll pick a warm strawberry straight from the sun and let them taste it. It’s a completely different experience to buying a packet from the supermarket.
Horizons College tutor Jade Wadmore said the opportunity is unique for many of the learners.
“Some of them are unable to access traditional work placements because their needs are quite significant, but here they’ve got the freedom and the space to carry out meaningful tasks.”
She added that the students love coming every week.
“If we don’t come in the winter, they get really upset.”
As well as growing vegetables, students harvest flowers, prepare food and see the entire journey from seed to plate. The project has also attracted support from across the community.
Swindon’s Wickes store donated soil and materials for the new raised beds, with Store Manager Ian explaining the company supports local charities through its national community programme.
“We’ve supported more than 100 projects in Swindon now, and it’s always nice to come out and see the difference it’s making.”
Further donations have come from Studley Grange Garden Centre, local fundraisers and members of Wroughton and District Garden Society, which also helped secure a rescued polytunnel and funded the garden’s irrigation system.
Society chairman Kris Cossey believes gardening offers much more than fresh produce.
“Lots of studies have shown that being outside growing things helps your wellbeing. It’s just a nice thing to do.”
Swindon’s Mayor, Councillor Neil Hopkins, also gave out awards at a recent service on 1st July:
“Anything that brings people back to growing food, learning where it comes from, then cooking it and having the pleasure of eating it, what’s not to like?”
He also highlighted the town’s strong allotment culture.
“As Chair of South Swindon Parish Council, we look after around 584 allotments. They’re an incredibly valuable community resource.”
While Pick, Cook and Eat is helping transform the lives of its students, Nancy believes the project represents something bigger. She wants Swindon to celebrate the wealth of food producers, growers and countryside on its doorstep.
“We’ve got incredible local producers, brilliant farms, vineyards, breweries, cheese makers and bakeries.
“We’ve also got beautiful countryside, places like the Ridgeway and Avebury right on our doorstep.
“We all need to get our voices out there and say, ‘Come on, look what Swindon has got to offer.'”
