Scottish schools set to grow their own

30 April 2008

Branston is supporting schools close to its site in Abernethy with their involvement in this year's Grow Your Own Potatoes project. Organised by the Potato Council, Grow Your Own Potatoes educates children on where food comes from, with each participating school receiving a kit including everything needed to grow potatoes and enter into regional competitions when the crops are harvested in June.  

Branston donated additional seed potatoes and Haxnicks Potato Patio Planters to each school so that more children could experience growing potatoes. As well as making the donation, members of the Branston team visited their local schools to talk to pupils about how potatoes grow and to show them how to 'chit' and plant their potatoes. Branston's experts have also provided advice on how to get a good crop and will be returning at 'harvest time' to see the results of the children's endeavours.

Euan Alexander, Field Manager at Branston, who has spoken to over 200 children about the importance of growing crops and the best ways to cultivate their potatoes, comments: "Grow Your Own Potatoes is a really beneficial project that helps to educate children on the importance of crop production and good nutrition. The planting and cultivating of crops is really rewarding, especially when it comes to harvesting. So it's really great to be part of such an inspiring project and to know that Branston's donation has ensured that even more school children can be involved."

Mrs Hepburn, Primary Two Teacher at Abernethy Primary school says: "Being able to get advice and information from experts in the field and practical hands-on experience of growing crops has really brought the subject alive for our pupils."

As well as Abernethy Primary School, Branston also worked with Dunbog Primary School, Newburgh Primary School, Goodlyburn Primary School, Balhousie Primary School and Cowdenbeath Primary School.