Kate Middletonis picnicking with school kids.
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The picnic, under a large horse chestnut tree, is part of an effort to bring gardening and nature into the lives of more children — something Kate has beenpassionately promotingfor several years. Students from the 10 schools are participating in the Royal Horticultural Society’sCampaign for School Gardening.
At one point, a little boy from Alex Reed Academy raised his hand — just like the classroom! — to ask Kate a question. “They’ve all been so polite,” a teacher says.
Ten-year-old Romasia told reporters that she and the Princess of Wales connected over the joys of growing fruits and vegetables. “We spoke about how fascinating it is to see how food grows. We talked about strawberries and how it takes time for them to grow and how rewarding it is to eat them then,” the student says.
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Kate then moved to The Samaritans Listening Garden, where another group of students awaited her. The Samaritans Listening Garden is designed to be a safe space for people to share their challenges and struggles. There, beautifully sculpted oak seats provide places to talk and listen or reflect on conversations.
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In the Royal Entomological Society garden, Kate refrained fromsigning her namewhen the excited kids from St. Mary’s Church of England School asked for her autograph. Instead, she scribbled a picture of some bugs. “She was very calm,” Sarah Caulkner-Matton from the school.
Simon Ward, CEO of the Royal Entomological Society adds, “She was really interacting with the children — she was amazing talking to them about the insects and what they enjoyed spotting.”
The party embarked on a bug hunt, and the royal mom joined the youngsters in planning a home-grown meal and learning more about how gardens can support well-being.
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“In recent years I have focused much of my work on the early years, and how instrumental they are for outcomes later in life,” she said in a statement at the time. “I believe that spending time outdoors when we are young can play a role in laying the foundations for children to become happy, healthy adults.”
source: people.com
