Get Children Growing

Teaching children how to grow plants, flowers, and vegetables is an essential topic and life skill that offers numerous benefits. This valuable practice not only enriches their education but also fosters responsibility, patience, and a deeper connection with nature. For these reasons, The Plant Pod has teamed up with notable partners, including British Garden Centres and Westland Horticulture, to introduce the “Get Children Growing” initiative. This project is set to provide eco-friendly and sustainable sunflower grow kits to schools throughout the UK, fostering a connection with nature and promoting eco-conscious habits among students. All seeds for this initiative are generously supplied by Mr Fothergill’s Seeds, while pots come from New Leaf Plants and Webbs Garden Centres.

Purpose of Get Children Growing

The initiative is designed to instil a love for gardening and sustainability in children by giving them hands-on, enjoyable experiences. These grow kits are specially crafted to be child-friendly, safe, and easy to use, offering students the opportunity to learn about the environment and sustainable practices in a fun, interactive way.

What’s Included in the Kits?

Each kit is thoughtfully prepared to be environmentally responsible, using recycled and recyclable materials. Here’s what schools can expect in their sunflower grow kits:

• Recycled Pots: Made from fully recyclable materials, the taupe pots are chosen because recycling machines can easily identify their pigment, unlike some other colours, making the process efficient and eco-friendly.
• Peat-Free Compost: Opting for peat-free growing media aligns with sustainable practices by protecting valuable peatlands. The compost is derived from renewable sources like coir, bark, and recycled green waste, which promotes responsible gardening and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Non-GMO Sunflower Seeds: Two seeds are included, allowing children to plant one at school and take another home, fostering a continued interest in gardening.
• Eco-Friendly Packaging: The kits come in compostable brown bags and seed envelopes with biodegradable adhesives. Even the company logo on the packaging is stamped using water-based ink, ensuring the kit remains fully compostable.
• Fun and Educational Activities: Age-appropriate activity sheets accompany the kits, including colouring pages, word searches, and puzzles that help children learn facts about sunflowers. QR codes link to videos guiding them through each stage of the plant’s life cycle.

The Educational Value

The “Get Children Growing” initiative goes beyond planting seeds—it serves as a valuable educational tool. Engaging in gardening activities helps children learn about plant biology, ecosystems, and sustainability. It encourages them to take responsibility and develop patience as they care for their plants. Moreover, these activities foster creativity and social skills, especially when children work together in a garden setting. The kits provided by the “Get Children Growing Centre” are perfect for use under a school canopy, offering children a sheltered environment to plant and nurture their plants comfortably. This setup not only keeps children protected from varying weather conditions but also safeguards the plants from extreme elements, ensuring a more conducive growing experience for all involved.

Sustainability at Its Core

Every element of the sunflower grow kit, from its materials to its purpose, underscores a commitment to sustainability. By using recycled and biodegradable materials, this initiative aims to minimise environmental impact while teaching children eco-friendly habits. The hands-on experience encourages families to participate in sustainable practices like composting and water conservation.

Benefits of Horticulture for Children

The “Get Children Growing” initiative isn’t just about growing sunflowers; it’s about nurturing well-rounded, environmentally aware individuals. The benefits of engaging children in horticulture include:

• Educational Growth: Hands-on learning about plant biology and ecosystems.
• Physical Activity: Involvement in planting and caring for plants promotes fitness.
• Mental Health: Gardening can reduce stress and improve mood.
• Responsibility and Patience: Teaches essential life skills as children tend to their plants.
• Creativity and Imagination: Designing their garden space sparks creativity.
• Connection to Nature: Fosters environmental awareness and stewardship.
• Social and Cognitive Skills: Enhances teamwork, problem-solving, and sensory development.

A Rewarding Experience

To further inspire participation, schools in the trial year will be entered into a raffle for a special day with Lee Connelly, the UK’s Leading Children’s Gardening Educator. This exclusive opportunity includes a gardening success plan designed to enrich students’ outdoor learning experiences.

Schools interested in participating in this enriching and educational experience can visit theplantpod.co.uk/get-children-growing for more information and to sign up.

Able Canopies Ltd. design, manufacture and install canopies and shade structures at schools, nurseries and educational settings to enable year-round Free Flow Outdoor Play and Outdoor Learning.
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