Growing Nature Academy
Green Clean Cruelty Free
We teach children and adults how to grow fruit and veg the organic, planet-friendly way.
GNA visits schools with our hands-on classroom workshops and transforms outdoor spaces.
We also organise school visits to planet-friendly, organic farms that are rich in biodiversity and wildlife, where students can learn about growing super healthy fruit and vegetables.
GNA has funding for schools
Contact us now to find out if you are eligible for a free school visit or a visit to one of our farms.
Growing Nature Academy
Clean: Safe, Animal & Chemical-Free Organic Gardens
100% plant-based, organic fertilisers maintain healthy, nutrient-rich soil—free from animal manures, fish, blood or bone meal, synthetic chemicals, and GMOs. This creates a safe, non-toxic learning environment where children can touch, taste, and grow with confidence.
Green: Hands-On Learning
Planet-friendly vegan organic gardens boost biodiversity: this enhances learning by offering pupils immersive, hands-on experiences that deepen their connection with nature and foster exploration of native wildlife and plants.
Cruelty Free: Respect for All Life
Our approach protects animals and wildlife while supporting soil regeneration and climate health. Children learn compassion and interconnectedness by observing how every living being contributes to a thriving ecosystem.
Shifting to plant-based agriculture could cut food-related greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50% and reduce land use by around 75% compared to conventional livestock systems. (Poore & Nemecek, 2018; Our World in Data, 2020).
With GNA, children learn and they grow. Pupils develop both science and humanities skills, while outdoor exercise and fresh, plant-based nutrition boost their health and mental well-being. Most importantly, immersive time in nature cultivates empathy for animals, people, and the planet, laying the foundation for ethically responsible global citizenship.
How We Support Schools
Curriculum-Aligned Resources
We provide lesson plans, slide decks, and activities tailored for integration across a wide range of subjects.
Indoor and Outdoor Growing Guides
Step-by-step instructions for composting, seed saving, raised beds, wildlife gardening, indoor sprouting and planting, and food production projects.
Expert mentoring
Our network of experienced planet-friendly organic growers supports schools in designing and building gardens, running workshops, and offering ongoing advice and practical assistance.
Educational visits
We connect schools with vegan organic farms, forest gardens, and animal sanctuaries. These visits offer pupils opportunities to engage with sustainable agriculture, deepen their understanding of ecological systems, and cultivate empathy for all living beings.
Benefits for Learners & Communities
Educational – Deepens pupils’ understanding of plant biology, ecology, and sustainable agriculture, and strengthens STEM, numeracy, critical thinking, and practical growing skills.
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GNA’s hands-on approach also fosters empathy and ethical awareness, encouraging reflection on food systems and environmental responsibility. It integrates across disciplines to support holistic, real-world learning that benefits both learners and their communities.
Health & wellbeing – Encourages nutritious, plant-based eating and active outdoor practice, boosting physical health and resilience.
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GNA nurtures emotional strength and a deeper connection to nature through compassionate, hands-on engagement. Additionally, involving families and local volunteers in school gardens fosters community bonds, promotes intergenerational learning, and increases shared access to nutritious food—benefiting both learners and their wider community.
Social, Moral, Spiritual & Cultural (SMSC) – Builds teamwork, responsibility, and pride. Fosters empathy and environmental stewardship. Strengthens school–community connections.
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Encourages compassion, responsibility, and respect for all life. It nurtures a sense of wonder and connection with the natural world, promotes ethical reflection on human impact, and fosters cooperation, community values, and appreciation of diverse cultural perspectives on sustainability and care.
Did you know? Livestock farming uses 80% of global agricultural land yet provides only 13% of the world’s calories (Our World in Data, 2020). Transitioning to plant-based systems can free vast areas of land—opening the door to rewilding, carbon drawdown, and the restoration of biodiversity on a transformative scale.
About the Academy
The Growing Nature Academy is a collaboration between two organisations dedicated to sustainable, compassionate education:
Vegan Organic Network (VON)
VON promotes sustainable, compassionate living through vegan organic growing and environmental education. They create resources, run workshops, and support community projects that regenerate soil, boost biodiversity, and protect animal welfare.
Veganism in Education VinE
VinE offers professionally developed teaching materials designed to foster empathy, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making in children and young people. Their lesson plans and activities support educators in integrating vegan ethics and environmental themes across a broad range of subjects.
Our Mission
To integrate planet-friendly vegan organic principles throughout the curriculum, enabling every learner to:
Deepen their understanding of where food comes from and its environmental impact,
Develop practical skills in gardening and environmental stewardship, and
Advocate for a fair, sustainable, and thriving world for all species.
Ready to get involved?
Find out if you are eligible for a free school visit or a visit to one of our farms.
Creating learning resources or visiting schools to help design gardens and run workshops on compost making, vegetable and fruit cultivation etc.
Growing in accordance with vegan organic principles and happy to host school visits.