Digging for Potatoes: Autumn Harvest Time at Forest School in Our Cambridge Nursery
Have you harvested all your vegetables yet? At Monkey Puzzle Grange Road, our Cambridge day nursery, autumn is one of the most exciting times of the year at Forest School. The potatoes the children planted last year were finally ready, and this week our little gardeners headed into the forest to dig them up.
Teamwork, Trowels and Muddy Hands
Working together in small groups, the children collected the potatoes and gathered them into their team buckets. There was no single right way to do it, so they explored different approaches to digging and harvesting, using trowels, forks, sticks and, of course, their hands to carefully uncover each potato without damaging it. Every group had a part to play, and every child got to feel the satisfaction of pulling their own potato from the soil.
Why Growing and Harvesting Matters for Your Child
A potato harvest might look like simple outdoor fun, but it is packed with early years learning. Planting something and returning months later to dig it up teaches patience and shows children where their food really comes from. Choosing between a trowel, a fork, a stick or their hands builds problem-solving and fine motor skills, while working towards a shared team bucket develops cooperation, communication and a sense of belonging. Time outdoors in all weathers also supports confidence, resilience and physical wellbeing. For your child, Forest School at our Cambridge nursery means hands-on childcare that nurtures curiosity and independence, with plenty of fresh air and mud along the way.
