Schools look to grow with new project

SCHOOLS in the Capital are being encouraged to sign up to a gardening project.

Run by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the initiative is designed to bring teachers, pupils and local adults together to develop school gardens.

Liberton Nursery School has already signed up and has a growing area where the children plant potatoes and some cereals.

Roseburn Primary School pupils have created a wildlife area and a small herb garden, are growing vegetables, apples and pears and have built an eco greenhouse from recycled plastic bottles.

Gordon Seabright, acting director general of RHS, said: "Teachers involved in the campaign for school gardening, and our own research, tell us that gardening brings out the best in children, socially, emotionally and physically.

"It introduces them to the idea of growing their own food, caring for wildlife and learning outside the classroom.

"For many, school provides the only opportunity to get involved in gardening, and we want to make sure that as many schools as possible can create and maintain an exciting growing space."