Glasson Dock bistro forges green links with village primary school

Green fingered schoolchildren in Glasson are giving a helping hand to a village business which prides itself on its use of local produce.
Gillian Thomas (headteacher), Jayne Weatherill (school business manager) and Mel Wagstaff of The Lantern Café Bistro pictured with some of the green fingered pupils.Gillian Thomas (headteacher), Jayne Weatherill (school business manager) and Mel Wagstaff of The Lantern Café Bistro pictured with some of the green fingered pupils.
Gillian Thomas (headteacher), Jayne Weatherill (school business manager) and Mel Wagstaff of The Lantern Café Bistro pictured with some of the green fingered pupils.

Though just a small school, with around 35 pupils at any one time, Thurnham Glasson CE School has moved with the times and as well as a standard curriculum they have worked hard to develop a fantastic ‘green’ ethos and rate the promotion of sustainability and recycling highly in their school syllabus.

The children have their own vegetable gardens which are planted, cared for, and harvested by them.

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Pupils can take home the ‘fruits of their labours’ and local residents also benefit but last year The Lantern O’er Lune Café Bistro at Glasson, under the new ownership of Jonathon and Mel Wagstaff, was also able to make use of some of this local grown produce in its menus, particularly apples for their winter fruit crumbles and fresh vegetables for their popular Friday evening bistro.

Some of the schoolchildren at work in their garden.Some of the schoolchildren at work in their garden.
Some of the schoolchildren at work in their garden.

Following discussions and consultation at the end of last year the Lantern Café Bistro agreed to fund the purchase of this year’s seeds to enable the school garden to grow crops specifically to complement the Lantern’s menu. In order to further support school funds the café bistro will also purchase these crops at harvest time.

The school has reported that the children are very excited to know that the fruit and vegetables they are growing will be used locally and The Lantern are equally delighted to be supporting the school and its children whilst having the benefit of knowing, and being able to tell their customers, exactly where their ingredients are coming from.