Grow Your Own Smile for Comic Relief

05 March 2009

This Red Nose Day Branston is hoping to raise over £1,000 for Comic Relief, but there won’t be any Smiles until at least August.

Workers at Branston are supporting Comic Relief by entering a competition to see who can grow the best crop. And in keeping with this year’s theme of ‘doing something funny for money’, they’re all growing Smile potatoes.

“Being bright red in colour, Smile sounds right and looks right for Comic Relief,” says Branston Technical Director Nick Turnbull, who came up with the fundraising idea.  “We support the Potato Council’s Grow Your Own Potatoes initiative by donating extra seed potatoes and planting containers to local schools. Last year we helped over 1,000 Lincolnshire school children to plant seed potatoes and learn how they grow. We saw how much they enjoyed it, so we’re hoping that our staff and their families and friends can do the same. We’re tying it in with our Comic Relief fundraising this year and Branston is offering a £100 prize for the highest yield, so we’re expecting some fierce competition, and a very big Smile in August when the potatoes are harvested.”

Smile, which is a main crop potato, is naturally red skinned and has distinctive smile-shaped markings, making it ideal for Comic Relief. The Smile 'growing kits' will be available to staff on Red Nose Day, which takes place on Friday 13 March.

In support of Comic Relief, registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland).