Lincolnshire children start to grow their own potatoes

25 March 2008

Branston is helping hundreds of Lincolnshire school children to find out more about where food comes from by growing their own potatoes.

The company has donated additional seed potatoes, Haxnicks' potato patio planters and expert time in support of the British Potato Council's 'Grow Your Own Potatoes' competition. Branston has helped eight schools around Lincoln so far and hopes that next year even more will join in. The Branston sites in Somerset and Perth are also working with their local schools to promote the GYOP initiative and get more children involved.   

Members of the Branston agronomy team are working with staff at each school to tailor their approach and fit in with the school's requirements, with anything from a small after-school gardening club to a full school assembly of 400 children. They're sharing their potato expertise with the pupils, providing nutritional information as well as growing advice.

Local schools that have already benefitted from visits are Dunston St Peters Church of England Primary School, Lincoln Birchwood Junior School, Bracebridge Heath St John's Primary School, Potterhanworth Church of England Primary School, Lincoln Myle Cross Junior School, St Francis Special School and Ermine Junior School.

Three weeks ago Pete Blaylock, Field Services Manager, showed pupils at Ermine Junior School how to get their seed potatoes to start sprouting and today he's returning to help them plant their 'chitted' potatoes. "The 'Grow Your Own Potatoes' initiative encourages children to find out where food comes from and how it grows," says Pete. "By getting thousands of schools across the country to compete, the British Potato Council is really starting to get children interested. As dedicated 'potato people' we wanted to help local schools that have registered for GYOP so that they could expand their growing plans and get more children to experience the fun of growing firsthand. My colleagues and I have spoken at assemblies as well as talking to gardening clubs and classes about how potatoes grow. We've had a fantastic reception and judging by the children's reactions they're all enjoying getting to grips with growing potatoes."

Paul Bargh, Headteacher at the Ermine Junior School, said it was great that such a large company would take the time to help local schools. "We're delighted that a Branston potato expert has been able to visit us and talk to our pupils. We've learnt a great deal about the nutritional importance of potatoes as well as how they're grown. Being able to actually plant them and watch them grow will really bring the subject to life and I think the children are all looking forward to taking them home to eat!"

Children, parents and teachers can find out more about the Grow Your Own Potatoes initiative at http://www.potatoesforschools.org.uk/.