15,000 Schools Sign Up to RHS Campaign that's backed by Alan Titchmarsh

15,000 schools have signed up to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Campaign for School Gardening, backed by the nation's favourite gardener, Alan Titchmarsh, meaning the charity is helping nearly half of all UK schools to garden, engaging some 3,000,000 3 million children.

Set up only four-and-a-half years ago to encourage and support schools to use gardening as a teaching resource, the campaign has gone from strength to strength and Berryhill Primary School, in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, has become the 15,000th school to register.

Through new initiatives like RHS Young School Gardener of the Year, which is being launched during the first National Gardening Week (16-22 April), the RHS will continue to shout about the importance of gardening in school in the hope of signing up, by the campaign's fifth birthday this September, more than half of all schools in the UK.

Alan Titchmarsh said: "We know the impact gardening at school has on children's development and wellbeing. As well as learning about the environment, it teaches them important life skills and makes them happy and healthy. Luckily for me, I stumbled on the magical world of gardening when I was young - watching how plants grew and getting my hands dirty brought fun and learning together - so it is my heartfelt belief that gardening at school brings many benefits every child should get the chance to enjoy. I know the RHS won't rest until all the schools in the UK are gardening!"

As demonstrated by RHS research, gardening boosts a child's development, teaches life skills and makes them healthier and happier. The most recent RHS report explores how gardening helps children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

Sue Biggs, Director General, for the RHS, added: "We were the first organisation to recognise the huge importance of gardening in schools and the wonderful impact it has on children, and the RHS has led the way in encouraging children to get gardening ever since. I am both proud and delighted twe have reached this milestone figure and would like to encourage all schools to register now and help us create future generations of skilled individuals who appreciate the importance gardening has on the environment."

Berryhill Primary School will be presented with a plaque and a tree to celebrate this important milestone.

Head Teacher of Berryhill Primary School, Mrs Carrie Nicol, responded by saying: "We're delighted to be part of the Campaign for School Gardening and what a bonus that we're the 15,000th school to sign up! We have a Peace Garden at the front of our school for use all year round and are currently building an Eco Green House from plastic bottles, and we would like to make a small area for growing vegetables that we can eventually sell to our local community.

"We would also like to have more plants growing all year round to keep it looking smart. We can't wait to start developing these projects further and finding out how we can use the garden as an outdoor classroom, with the help from the RHS."

The RHS Campaign for School Gardening, which is also backed by Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins, has been running since 2007 and is free to join. Schools that register receive access to training courses and a whole host of online resources, including lesson plans, case studies and gardening advice. Each school is also sent a free starter pack; comprising of seeds, soil pH testing kits, posters and more.


FACTFILE:
The RHS has actively involved 15,000 schools across the UK in growing and gardening through its Campaign for School Gardening, which is supported by Waitrose. Children are taught about plants and gardening and their environment. Through gardening they learn about healthy fruit and vegetables, wildlife and important life skills such as teamwork, social skills and co-operation.

Huge benefits are to be had from using an outdoor classroom where children can learn in a fun, engaging way. Information, lesson plans and advice for schools is provided online and is backed up by support from the RHS education team and Campaign for School Gardening Regional Advisors. Schools work their way up from Level 1 to 5 and have the chance of winning the Alan Titchmarsh Award, between Levels 3 and 4. www.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening