Hatherleigh Primary School pupils try out their new kitchen

Children at Hatherleigh Primary School have got a brand new kitchen to learn about healthy eating in, thanks to the voluntary efforts of local businesses.

And the winners of a competition to design a healthy meal were lucky enough to take part in a series of healthy cooking workshops run by TV chef Tim Maddams.

The kitchen has been installed ahead of  the introduction of a new curriculum in September which places greater emphasis on cooking. The school is also encouraging the pupils to make healthy choices in the food they eat.

The kitchen was installed after the hard work of school governor Jason Collins who persuaded local organisations to donate all the goods and labour for free.

The old mini cooker has been replaced with brand new electrical cooker with an induction hob and there are new kitchen units and a fridge freezer.

The younger children were challenged to try something different by making beetroot hummus and flat breads from raw ingredients and they then shared their creations with schoolmates.

Tim did not just teach them how to prepare the dishes he also emphasised the importance of using fresh local ingredients, sustainable food and healthy choices.

He spoke to the whole school about balancing healthy choices around eating with a more active lifestyle and caring for the environment.

Then he visited the gardening club to see the vegetables the children are growing.

The older children had an even greater challenge. They had an hour to prepare a healthy meal for more than ten visitors including the generous benefactors of the new kitchen.

They prepared fresh vegetable and herb barley risotto with wild garlic and fresh rhubarb compote with locally produced yogurt.

Headteacher Caroline Boother said: “Tim was an inspiration with his enthusiasm for food and healthy living.

“The children are now looking forward to using their new kitchen.”