Armed with rakes, spades and watering cans, a group of four-year-olds have taken up the challenge of running their own allotment in Beccles and could now be the youngest allotment holders in the country.
The group, who come from Ravensmere Arc pre-school, have taken over four raised beds at the Allotment 4 Kidz plot on Common Lane - run by the Beccles Allotments and Gardens Association.
And they have already been getting their hands dirty, digging and raking their beds to prepare them for the potatoes, carrots and beans they have chosen to plant.
Joan Cupples, secretary of the association, said the kidz plot has been running for two years, but up until now has only been used by 11 to 15-year-olds from the Sir John Leman High School in Beccles.
She said: 'This is the first year we have had such young children here and they are at the perfect age to be starting. It is entirely up to them what they want to do with their beds. The association is just here to support and advise them on what should be grown when and where.
'It's good to get them bitten by the gardening bug so early. It helps them think about healthy eating and where their food comes from. It's also good exercise and encourages them to work together as a team.'
Children from the pre-school will be visiting the plot once a week to maintain their beds and keep an eye on their vegetables.
Carey Cain, deputy manager of the pre-school, said: 'We don't have anywhere at school where they can grow things on a large scale and we thought it was important for the children to learn where their food comes from and to make links with the local community.
'Some of them weren't sure what an allotment was and when we talk about where food comes from at school most of them think Tesco.
'We asked them what they would like to grow and we have been doing lots of activities looking at what things vegetables need to help them grow properly.
'We will be walking here from the school so we will just be bringing the three and four-year-old children, but we will be taking lots of photos to show everyone back at school.'
The kidz allotment was set up with funding and support from a number of local businesses and councillors, and money left over was used to pay for a collection of tools and seeds to get the children started.
The group, who said they were 'excited' to start growing their own vegetables, also enjoyed watching creatures emerge from the soil as they started digging. All the vegetables will be taken back to the school and will be eaten during snack time.
Have you got a story about children learning new skills? Email amy.smith@archant.co.uk
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