Diarmuid Gavin supports Growing Schools at National Conference

‘Its the most important thing I’ve ever done’ – that’s how celebrity gardener Diarmuid Gavin describes his involvement with Growing Schools¹ through fronting the Morrisons Let’s Grow campaign. Speaking at the second Growing Schools Conference, held at Kew Gardens² on March 23rd 2009, Diarmuid described how the unimaginative gardens of his childhood drove him to the opposite extreme, creating wild and unconventional designs for clients and shows. However, now that he has a family of his own he is recognising the value of introducing children to the more traditional joys of hands-on gardening, which is why he’s so passionate about getting all children involved in growing food at school.

Angus Maciver, Group Marketing and Communications Director for Morrisons, gave a round-up of how Let’s Grow has grown. Launched in autumn 2008, the scheme awarded vouchers to shoppers at Morrisons, which could then be redeemed by schools for a wide range of gardening goods. To date 15,000 schools have registered, and have receved goods worth £30 million including16,000 pairs of gloves, 19,000 trowels,12,000 watering cans, 3,000 pairs of wellies and 4,700 greenhouses. The scheme is closed at present, but will re-open in the summer when it will be extended to nursery schools. See www.morrisons.co.uk/letsgrow.

A perfectly dressed and trussed turkey, Darwin’s treasure chest and 1000 inflatable dog bones all featured in the afternoon workshops. These were designed to give the 120 delegates a flavour of the huge range of activities embraced by Growing Schools, and lots of practical ideas to help them make the most of the outdoor classroom. You can find out more by following the links.

• Den building with EastFeast, showed how natural and recycled materials can be used to create outdoor shelters and form the beginnings of outdoor classrooms. The Growing Schools Den was severely tested by a torrential downpour, but proved impressively resilient. www.eastfeast.co.uk
  
• Developing school grounds through creative partnerships focussed on work facilitated by Art Gene at Ormsgill Nursery and Primary School in a deprived area of Barrow-in-Furness. Their three-year collaboration is turning underused grounds into a vibrant learning environment for all. www.artgene.co.uk, www.creative-partnerships.com
  
• Practical growing skills, run by the RHS, demonstrated a range of activities from taking cuttings of exotics to starting your own kitchen garden. www.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening
  
• Thinking walks followed in Darwin’s footsteps to develop thinking and creative skills and solve a range of challenges. They are one of the activities featured in the Great Plant Hunt, devised to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth, and providing a range of free resources to all primary schools www.greatplanthunt.org.uk
  
• Plant adaptations demonstrated a number of ideas for linking visits to a plant collection such as Kew with a range of classroom activities www.kew.org.uk
  
• Land-based opportunities in schools, from growing plants to keeping poultry, were explored by members of the School Farms Network. www.farmgarden/school-farms-network
  
• Quality badges for providers of learning outside the classroom opportunities, and what they will mean for schools, were explained by members of Nafso www.nafso.org.uk, www.lotcqualitybadge.org.uk
  
• A Growing Schools network has been set up on the Love School Grounds website so that school grounds professionals who support schools in developing their school grounds can keep in touch, seek help, and share ideas and information. www.loveschoolgrounds.org.uk

1. Growing Schools is a government programme that champions learning through real-life, hands-on involvement with food and farming, gardens and green spaces, and wildlife and the natural environment. For more information go to www.growingschools.org.uk

2. The conference organisers are very grateful to the staff at Kew Gardens for their support. Kew Gardens is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year with many more events. Find out more at www.kew.org.uk/events/kew2009.