Television gardener Alan Titchmarsh is calling on all schools to get their grown-ups growing as part of a nationwide event staged by the RHS in October.
The initiative, now in in its third year, is part of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening to encourage parents and adults in the wider community to get involved with their local schools' gardens.
Alan Titchmarsh, an avid supporter of the Campaign for School Gardening despite not really enjoying school himself, said, 'The fact that schools have really cottoned onto the benefits of gardening with their pupils is fantastic news, especially for children who are looking for different ways to learn, like I was.'
Of the schools that held a Get Your Grown-ups Growing event last year, 74% said it had increased their children’s interest in gardening, while more than half reported an increase in adult support and adult interest in gardening.
The RHS hopes to see 2,000 schools register for this year’s Get Your Grown-ups Growing event, double last year’s figure. All registered schools will be entered into a free prize draw to win garden tools and materials.
Jacky Chave, Strategic Schools Manager, RHS, said, 'By involving parents and other local adults we hope that school gardens will be looked after all year round, and enthusiasm for gardening and growing will spread beyond the school gates and into children’s homes.'
Schools wishing to take part must register and can choose any day in October to hold their event.