Local Campaign No. 1 Growing at School

GROWING AT SCHOOL

The aim of this campaign is to give every child in our catchment area, ( a 20 mile radius of Bude), the opportunity to learn how to grow vegetables, fruit & plants, save seeds & make compost.

Four schools participated for the 2010 season. They were given seeds & two local garden centres (Homeleigh, Launceston and Brooks, Stratton) kindly offered to give a discount to schools. We met at Holsworthy school initially and later visits were made to Marhamchurch & Delabole schools. This gave everyone the benefit of seeing what others were doing and gaining ideas.

Prize giving was held at The Bridgemill, Bridgerule on a beautiful, sunny, warm afternoon. Cream teas were provided by Friends of the Earth. Children and teachers waited anxiously as sunflowers were measured and pumpkins weighed. Marhamchurch grew the tallest sunflower at 2.56 metres. Holsworthy cultivated the heaviest pumpkin weighing in at 2 lbs 7 oz. (We promise to do the conversion & have metric scales for this season!). The prize winners were given a huge sack of daffodil bulbs each. Every school was given several packets of seeds and 10 strawberry plants for taking part.

We are starting the 2011 growing season with a meeting on Wednesday 2nd March 4.00 p.m. with tea and cakes at The Bridgemill, Bridgerule. This year we have 9 schools taking part definitely and 2 possibilities. At the meeting each school will be given seeds and their discount cards. We will also present schools with a book for recording their garden's progress. The competitions will be explained and there will be an opportunity for the schools to discuss their plans for the 2011 season.