CHILDREN in North Hinksey went back to nature to celebrate this year’s harvest festival.

The youngsters, all from North Hinksey CofE Primary School, swapped the school hall for the fresh air and gathered at the village allotments to praise the autumn crop.

They were joined by proud parents and teachers, along with the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd John Pritchard, who led the special service.

More than 20 children, representing each class at the school, attended the open-air service on Monday and sang For The Fruits of His Creation, a song they had been rehearsing all week.

Children in Year Five had also prepared special prayers for the day, based on their thoughts about harvest time.

Headteacher Sally Wheatley said it was a special occasion for the children.

She added: “Every year at this time, we have a big focus on harvest, while our assemblies are about the harvest through the autumn.

“It’s a big feature of the school, but we’ve never done anything like this before.

“It is an informal celebration of the harvest and three children were chosen to represent each class.”

“The children will be able to reflect on the importance of harvest in the area and recognise how a good harvest can impact on people everywhere.”

Bishop John, whose office is close to the allotment site, said: “Harvest festival is a wonderful occasion to celebrate all that’s good about creation, to thank God for nature’s huge generosity, and to remember those across the world who are hungry most of the time.

“Traditionally, we celebrate harvest in church and, of course, many of our churches will be doing just that.

“But I can think of no better place in the city to mark the festival than down on the allotments.”

North Hinksey CofE Pri-mary School will be holding its school harvest festival tomorrow,when the whole school will parade through the village to the church of SS Peter & Paul, carrying harvest produce, for a service of thanks.

The food will then be distributed by the church to local homeless charities.

Churches right across the diocese of Oxford, which covers the three counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, are running special ‘Harvest Welcome’ services this autumn, when the churches are inviting local people to come and join them in celebrating harvest.