Fantastic response to grown-ups’ involvement
23 September 2010
There's been an overwhelmingly enthusiastic reaction from schools to the RHS ‘Get Your Grown-ups Growing’ initiative - all of the 1,000 packs, prepared for distribution, have been allocated to schools nationwide.
“We have been inundated with requests for packs,” says Jacky Chave, RHS Strategic Schools Manager. “This is the second year we have encouraged schools to get their grown-ups involved.
"Based on the 89 schools that took up the challenge in Yorkshire last year we had anticipated that maybe about 500 nationwide take part. But the response has been amazing. Over twice as many as we had predicted.”
Because so many schools have tried to sign up for the pack and were too late the RHS has now put the promotional poster and some activity ideas on the website. The Society hopes that this will encourage even more schools to hold an event even though they may not have received a pack.
‘Get Your Grown-ups Growing’ forms part of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. It is supported by Waitrose with additional support from Marshalls plc and Dorset Cereals. The initiative, which aims to get grown-ups involved, will be held in October and will see parents, grandparents, carers and neighbours joining children in developing school garden areas.
Sue Biggs, the Charity’s new Director General, says: “The educational and health benefits that gardening has to offer children are not to be underestimated. At the RHS we think it is important that every child has access to a garden area and having one at school is a great way to get them to learn about their environment, enjoying fresh air and understanding where their food comes from.”
She added: “We hope that grown-ups attending the events across the country will be inspired to stay involved with their local school’s garden and support its development in the longer term. It’s a great way to bring the community together.”
Every school that registers for Get Your Grown-ups Growing has the opportunity to win some fabulous prizes, including a fantastic Patio Glasshouse worth £900 from Hartley Botanics and six woodstone planters courtesy of Marshalls plc.