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Early learning centres bring hands-on learning to life thanks to Healthy Harold’s Garden Grants
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Jun 02, 2025
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Little learners and educators from MercyCare Early Learning Lansdale in WA are reaping the rewards of their green thumbs, after winning a school garden grant from Life Ed, its iconic mascot Healthy Harold, and Bakers Delight’s and their Healthy Solutions range.
“The garden includes three garden beds with vegetables, bush tucker, fruit, and a fairy garden. There is also two edible sensory garden pots with flowers and herbs,” said Tammy Dodd, Centre Manager at MercyCare Early Learning Landsdale.
“This has been a great addition to our centre as it has allowed us to create a hands-on learning environment where children can explore nature, develop essential life skills, and gain a deeper understanding of sustainability and healthy living.”
The students from MercyCare Early Learning Lansdale are sharing their progress as Life Ed and Bakers Delight’s and their Healthy Solutions range are about to launch another year of Healthy Harold’s Garden Grants. Running from 3 to 24 June, the annual initiative empowers Aussie kids to learn about how growing and eating healthy food can fuel their bodies and boos their moods.
“We have been partnering with schools to deliver preventative health education for more than 45 years now, and what continues to be clear is the importance of memorable, immersive experiences to embed learning. It’s because children learn by doing. That is what Healthy Harold’s Garden Grants is all about,” said Russell D’Costa, CEO at Life Ed Australia.
As part of the grants program, Life Ed and Bakers Delight’s and their Healthy Solutions range have collaborated to provide schools with free resources to empower students to learn more about nutrition and connecting with nature and each other. The initiative also gives primary schools, preschools and early learning centres across the country the chance to win their share of $25,000 in grants by simply sharing their vision for their school garden.
Thanks to major partner Bakers Delight’s and their Healthy Solutions range, schools will have more chances to win with applications categorised by school type and size.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Life Ed once again for this important garden grants program. We know that early education about healthy eating and nourishing our bodies has a positive impact on kids, both mentally and physically, so we’re delighted to be supporting another 25 schools around Australia in bringing this hands-on educational experience to life,” said Elise Gillespie, Bakers Delight Joint CEO.
To learn more, visit www.lifeed.org.au/gardengrants
About Life Ed
Life Ed is the largest and most recognised provider in preventative health education in schools. With the help of its iconic mascot Healthy Harold the giraffe, Life Ed has been empowering children and young people to make safer and healthy choices for more than 45 years.
For more information visit lifeed.org.au
About Bakers Delight
Fourth generation baker Roger Gillespie and his wife Lesley, founded the company’s first bakery in 1980 in Hawthorn, Melbourne. Today, Bakers Delight remains in family hands under the leadership of Elise Gillespie and husband, David Christie and can be found in more than 700 locations across Australia, North America and New Zealand. That’s a lot of bread being baked fresh daily and delivered to a lot of happy customers.
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