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Boris Johnson: Let’s grow fruit and veg in schools
Mark Prigg, Science and Technology Editor21 Jan 2010
Every school in the capital should start growing fruit and vegetables, Boris Johnson said today.
The Mayor has written to all the 2,300-plus primaries in London urging them to join the Capital Growth scheme. Schools will be urged to create gardens or expand the ones they have.
Mr Johnson said: “What better way to bring alive elements of the school curriculum than through hands-on experience in growing your own grub?
“We want to help cultivate this appetite for locally grown food, and reward the top performers. Whether tending plots in paint pots or on the perimeter of a playing field, food growing in our schools will help make London a more pleasant place while giving our kids a lifelong skill.”
The scheme includes a contest to create the best gardens. Part of the winning school's prize will be a visit from Chris Collins, the Blue Peter gardener.
Rosie Boycott, chairwoman of London Food, launched the competition today by helping pupils from Ambler primary in Finsbury Park plant a garden. She said: “It's been shown that kids who grow their own go on to eat more healthily.
“Many in London don't know the magic of seeing a seed flourish into an item you can eat, or even the names of common vegetables. This is what we want to help schools conjure up to create a city of micro-farms.”
Schools taking part in the contest will be given help and advice and the chance to apply for grants. Winners will also get cash prizes of £500, plants and a wormery.
Reader views (2)
It has just been stated that the school leavers are unable to read and write and add up so how are they going to be able to read the instuctions on a seed packet.Just another idea out of the Mayor, it will cost money but improve nothing .
- Hamilton Straker, Ealing London uk., 21/01/2010 14:37
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Excellent idea. Now children will know that a tomato si not just something you take out of your burger and throw away. I expect it will all be ruinded by the health and safety police though.
- Julian, London, 21/01/2010 12:41
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