Kids get gardening

8:56am Monday 12th May 2008

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WHITMINSTER'S Highfield Garden World has joined forces with local primary schools to encourage children to enjoy gardening.

The Commitment to Gardening with Children is designed to develop children's sensory, wildlife and vegetable gardens.

Following the success of last year's carrot growing competition with local schools, Kate Reeves, gardening with children co-ordinator, is running vegetable growing competitions with 10 schools.

Armed with all the necessary kit and a factsheet, pupils are shown how to grow carrots, sunflowers or pumpkins.

Their progress will be checked and supported every three to six weeks, and a helping hand given wherever needed.

A series of judging weekends are planned.

A number of Highfield Garden World suppliers have kindly donated prizes.

Jon Mason, planteria manager at Highfield Garden World, already volunteers half a day every week developing and maintaining a school gardening scheme at St Matthew's School in Cainscross.

As well as the link-ups with schools, Highfield is running fortnightly workshop days in-store through the summer and autumn.

Places can be pre-booked or children can turn up on the day and take their chances for the 30 minute sessions involving all sorts of grubby fun from growing vegetables and understanding companion growing to setting up a wiggly wormery and fending off pests and beasties.

Sessions take place every other Saturday between 10am and 4pm, costing £2 per child.

The centre can be contacted at hgw@highfield-nurseries.co.uk or call 01452 741444