Morrisons help schools grow their greens

The figures also show that 8% of children think bananas grow in British gardens – while one in ten have no idea that potatoes and carrots can be grown in a garden, at home or at school. And it also shows that three-quarters of children are not eating their recommended five portions a day of fruit and veg. The news comes as Morrison launches 'Let's Grow', with thousands of packets of seeds being sent to schools taking part in the scheme for teachers to encourage pupils to have fun with food and start planting – enough free seeds to grow around 1.5m salad leaf plants for six million salad bowls. Fronted by Diarmuid Gavin, well known garden designer and TV Presenter, thousands of schools are expected to register for 'Let's Grow', which ties into the taught curriculum and supports the Government's 'Growing Schools' initiative. Parents, friends and families will then be able to get behind the scheme by collecting 'Let's Grow' reward vouchers from their local Morrisons store from September 15. Schools can then redeem the vouchers for free gardening equipment, including everything from seeds to spades, composting bins to planters and even a greenhouse. Launching 'Let's Grow', Diarmuid Gavin said: "By encouraging schoolkids to get green-fingered, we can help them learn more about fresh fruit and veg. "Planting seeds and tending them to spring up and sprout is great fun and very rewarding. Who knows, having grown and picked their own, they might even get a taste for eating their greens too!" Morrisons 'Let's Grow' scheme Director, Angus Maciver, said: "This is something children can really get stuck into and, by getting their hands dirty planting, growing, pruning and picking, develop a real passion for produce." Morrisons shoppers can collect vouchers in store on all purchases of £10 or more to pass on to their local participating school, from September 15 until the end of November. Schools will then be able to exchange the vouchers in January for their choice from a wide range of seeds and gardening equipment, meaning schools taking part in the 'Let's Grow' scheme can have everything they need for the start of the Spring growing season in March. A team of gardening experts provided by community garden specialists, Federation of City Farms & Community Gardens (FCFCG), will be visiting some of the participating schools to give hands-on support. Let's Grow is supportive of the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) 'Learning Outside the Classroom' manifesto and the 'Growing Schools initiative. National Schools Partnership has helped to develop additional bespoke resources linking growing lessons to key stages. Minister of State for Schools and Learners, Jim Knight MP, said: "Every young person should experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of learning and personal development. "I welcome the efforts businesses are making to support our Learning Outside of the Classroom Manifesto and Growing Schools initiative by encouraging young people to get actively involved in outdoor learning activities such as growing or gardening. I hope young people and their teachers use these resources to grow their own food both at school and at home."