There is something rather special about picking an apple straight from the tree, and our Infant School children enjoyed the perfect autumn adventure on Wednesday with a visit to Grosvenor’s Eaton Estate.
Making the most of the season, the children were shown around the orchard, where they collected apples ready to be pressed into fresh apple juice. They also explored the beautiful walled vegetable garden, discovering more about the fruit and vegetables grown there.
It was a wonderful opportunity to learn beyond the classroom, bringing the sights, sounds and smells of autumn to life. From gathering apples to seeing how they could be transformed into juice, the children enjoyed a hands-on experience that connected them with the natural world and the changing seasons.
The visit also brought one of Abbey Gate College’s Three Pillars of Purpose, Sustainability, to life. By exploring the orchard and vegetable garden, the children could begin to understand where our food comes from, appreciate the resources nature provides and develop an early awareness of the importance of caring for our environment.
The visit also offered a special opportunity to explore a little of the history on our doorstep. Abbey Gate College has a long association with the Grosvenor family, whose connection with the Eaton Estate dates back centuries. Saighton Grange, our Senior School home, was purchased by the Grosvenor family in the 1840s, and the family’s influence remains an important part of the local area’s heritage. With our Infant and Junior School so close to the Eaton Estate, this remarkable landscape is quite literally on our doorstep.
We are very grateful to the Duke and Duchess of Westminster for kindly granting permission to use photographs from the visit, and to the team at Grosvenor’s Eaton Estate for making the experience possible.
A perfect autumn day, a little orchard adventure and a fresh perspective on the natural world around us!
