The Star Gardens campaign is launched today with the aim of encouraging a new generation of Shropshire citizens to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers.
Over the next 12 months, we will be working with the Royal Horticultural Society and other organisations to build gardens in county schools.
We want as many schools as possible to register with us and every one that does will receive a free starter pack from the RHS.
The pack will contain seeds, planting guides, educational literature and contacts for organisations that can provide free tools or financial support.
Though the campaign is launched today, more than 30 schools have already registered their interest in taking part.
Some of those have already started to build their own garden, others are beginning from scratch.
Star Gardens co-ordinator Andy Richardson said: “We want as many schools as possible to work with Shropshire Star and the RHS on this campaign.
“The aim is to build gardens in schools across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Mid Wales.
“Every school is welcome. They simply have to contact us, tell us they are interested and we’ll support them from then on. It couldn’t be simpler.
“We’ll help them to register with the RHS, which will send them a starter pack.”
Schools are be urged to register as quickly as possible. When they return to school after the summer holiday, they will be encouraged to organise a single event during the autumn term.
Mr Richardson added: “The idea is that they will organise an event that will raise either funds or awareness.
“It could be a sponsored event, an evening of food and drink, an event that will encourage volunteers to come forward or something completely different.
“We have lots of ideas and ways to help people to make their events work. We also want to encourage as many parents and pta organisations as possible.”
Schools that need help deciding what to plant will be given free advice by experts.
They will then be able to draw up planting schemes for the spring term 2010. After that, schools will be able to tend their plots before harvesting crops during the summer.
Mr Richardson added: “We’re going to give free VIP tickets to the Shrewsbury Flower Show to the first three schools to register.
“Next summer, we’ll also visit all of the schools that have taken part and trophies will be awarded to those who have the best gardens.
“We’ll also be following the progress of schools and writing regular stories about them. There will also be frequent updates at www.shropshirestar.com – we really hope that people keep us up to date on what they are doing.”
Schools need not have lots of space, a huge roll call of pupils or ambitious plans for their plots.
They are welcome to install planters, grow herbs or soft fruit in window boxes, plant vegetables and flowers in areas that were scrubland or come up with other creative uses of space.
Mr Richardson said: “We want to get Shropshire’s schools gardening. The crops that schools harvest can be used in school dinners, where kitchens exist, sold to local businesses, donated to good causes or taken home by pupils, staff and volunteers.
“Star Gardens is a campaign that aims to encourage children to grow their own fruit, vegetables and flowers.
“It’s an environmentally responsible initiative and we want gardeners, allotment holders and others to help by offering their expertise.”
Schools that have not registered can email an expression of interest to: arichardson@shrosphirestar.co.uk or telephone (01952) 241429.
Gardeners, allotment holders and similar organisations can also make pledges of support, time or expertise.
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