• Swindon & Wiltshire Social
• Wednesday October 28 2026

Donation unlocks outdoor learning opportunities for pupils

A new Mud Kitchen is helping transform outdoor learning for pupils at Southbroom Nursery & Infant School in Devizes, thanks to a £500 donation from Trowbridge-based meals provider, apetito.

The funding has enabled the school to deliver a key part of its vision for the Nature Nook outdoor learning area, bringing to life a project that might not otherwise have been possible.

Supporting children from nursery through to Year 2, Southbroom Nursery & Infant School is committed to ensuring all pupils can benefit from rich learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.

The school believes outdoor learning plays an important role in children’s development, helping them build confidence, resilience and social skills.

Created to give children a space to explore, investigate and connect with the natural world, the Nature Nook has become a valuable part of school life. The new Mud Kitchen has enhanced the area even further, encouraging imaginative play and creating meaningful opportunities for children to collaborate and learn together.

The valuable funding was awarded through the apetito Staff Foundation, which enables colleagues to support community projects that are important to them and their families.

The grant was secured by Richard Jones, head of specialist nutrition at apetito, who nominated the project after learning more about the school’s plans through his partner, Tiffany Butcher, headteacher at the school.

Richard said: “The Nature Nook was such a positive idea for the children, but funding for projects like this is always competing with other priorities within school budgets. The apetito Staff Foundation gave us the opportunity to bring it to life and make a real difference in the local community.

“The mud kitchen gives children the chance to learn through play, develop confidence and teamwork, and spend more time outdoors engaging with nature. I’m really pleased that apetito has been able to support a project with such a tangible impact.”

Tiffany said: “The support from the apetito Staff Foundation means a great deal to our school community. Funding opportunities such as this allow us to enhance our provision and provide experiences that enrich children’s learning and wellbeing.

“The mud kitchen has quickly become one of the most popular areas in our outdoor space. From the moment it was installed, children were eager to explore, create and develop their own recipes, potions and imaginative role-play scenarios.

“Seeing how enthusiastically they have embraced it has been wonderful. We are incredibly grateful to apetito for helping us create an environment that will enrich children’s learning and enjoyment for years to come.”