No disrespect to other eating establishments in Coniston, but they are in for some serious competition if local primary schoolchildren ever decide to go into the catering business. With a bit of help from some extra special friends, the pupils have pulled off a culinary coup – earning the accolade ‘best restaurant in town’ at their first attempt. The waiters might have been a trifle on the short side but the guests they served in the school hall last week were nonetheless impressed. The three-course dinner was the icing on the cake for teacher Wendy Yates and Coniston in Bloom’s Anne Pamplin - the leading lights of an inspirational food project.

IT HAD been quite a week on the food front for Coniston Church of England Primary School. Such has been its success in the horticulture department, that school representatives were invited to the launch of the new Cumbria Healthy Schools food resource pack at Rheged.

Teacher Wendy Yates and several pupils were asked to give a presentation on their school garden, which not only embodies the ‘outdoor classroom’ principles of the National Curriculum, but also supplies organic produce for the school kitchen – and wins prizes in between.

A few days after Rheged, the school unveiled an activity day to top all activity days – one devoted entirely to food and one in which all the children – nearly 80 six to 11 year olds – were able to participate.

It was only possible thanks to a community which rallied to the cause and industry professionals who gave their time to ensure the day’s success.

Anne Pamplin is chairman of Coniston in Bloom and secretary of the local garden club.

“We had always helped the children to plant bulbs but we wanted to do something a bit more educational,” explained Anne. “You can’t eat bulbs”.

Growing beans in pots was the next venture, the project made all the more relevant by the incorporation of ‘outdoor classrooms’ and ‘food for eating’ topics in the National Curriculum.

Even so, it took three years for the school garden project to get off the ground - March 2003 the grand unveiling.

Thanks partly to the efforts of garden club member John Stoddart, who made sure the school had some top-quality soil, the garden grew beyond everyone’s wildest dreams as the year progressed.

Anne even secretly entered some vegetables in the Coniston and Torver Garden Club Horticultural Day.

She only revealed the true identity of the competitor going by the name of ‘C.E. School’ after ‘Coniston CE Primary School’ was awarded prizes for its lettuce, herbs and cabbage.

The garden was also honoured in this year’s Cumbria in Bloom awards.

“These children are our next generation of gardeners. The whole thing has been a roaring success,” said Anne.

Coniston CE Primary School head teacher Steve Jackson agrees: “The garden has become an integral part of the school day. We use it for art, science, religious education. It is also a means for excellent links with the local community”.

So excellent, in fact, that all of them offered their help when Anne and Wendy set about planning the ‘Food Day’, the aim of which was to make sure that all the children would be involved in preparing or finding out about food production “in a fun and informative way”.

Two groups visited Greenodd where they met butcher Peter Hutchinson and baker Mark Watson. Two more travelled to Hawkshead to see behind the scenes at Esthwaite Trout Farm and the Hawkshead Relish Company.

Another visited The Crown, in Coniston, to learn something of hotel management, and Coniston Brewery to discover how to make award-winning ale.

Meanwhile, back at the primary school, Coniston WI members Gill Smout, Margaret Procter, Joan Fleming and Betty Birkett were demonstrating the finer points of baking with the help of tried and tested recipes from that marvellous little tome, the Be-Ro book.

Jane Ligema showed the children how to make chocolates. There was honey to taste from one of the Coniston Beekeeper brigade too.

Even the nursery children got in on the act visiting Satterthwaite tearooms for cake and juice.

And as if all that wasn’t enough, Wendy also bagged a top catering team from Kendal College’s Lakes Hotel School.

The Kendal College Team comprised Centre of Vocational Excellence development manager Mark Horton and part-time lecturer Dave Rodgie who, with the help of trainee chefs Lloyd Williamson, Amy Nicholson and Mick Maguire, helped Coniston Primary School earn its ‘best in town’ accolade.

Having asked local food producers to donate their wares, Wendy gave Mark and Dave a list of home-grown ingredients – among them produce from the school garden - to form the basis of a three-course meal. And nearby senior school, John Ruskin, offered its kitchens and the services of food technology teacher Una Challis to put the meal together.

Fifteen lucky children then enjoyed what Una called “a day they will never forget”.

Working in teams with the Kendal College chefs, they helped prepare: - Leek & Potato Soup
- Organic Cumbrian lamb hotpot
- Grilled Coniston char with toasted almonds
- Cumberland sausage with mash, & caramelised onion gravy
- Pomme Dauphinoise
- Pickled red cabbage with balsamic vinegar
- Baton carrots & cauliflower cheese
- Apple crumble with crème anglaise
- Crannachan with Cumbrian honey and Coniston primary school-grown raspberries.

“It wasn’t a case of them just watching us,” said Dave Rodgie. “This has been a very hands-on experience for them. They have been brilliant. Very enthusiastic and really interested”.

To complete the experience, the children, and the Kendal College team – complete with food - then hot-footed it back to the primary school and head cook Louise Elson’s kitchen.

The scene was set for the invited guests, among them members of Coniston Cameo Club.

Children were allowed to dress the part in waiter and waitress regulation black and white. All the tables had flowers and school-made tablemats.

As for the food … it was mouth-watering and guests showed their appreciation with speeches and applause.

Wendy was over the moon.

“When children leave school they don’t remember the maths and the literacy. They remember days like this. And hopefully, there will be a couple of children who want to do this as a job”.

Kendal College wasn’t recruiting at Coniston primary school but I suspect the guys did spot some rising stars.

In the meantime, there’s talk of an after-school cookery club and plans to expand the garden.

How does Coniston primary school’s garden grow? Blooming lovely!