The number of schools participating in a Shropshire Star campaign to encourage youngsters to grow vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs at school has reached 84.

Schools have continued to register for Star Gardens, since arriving back in the classroom following the summer holiday.

And there is still the chance for more schools to enter. They simply need to e-mail or telephone organisers to express an interest and in return they will receive a free starter pack full of seeds, planting charts and other goodies.

The latest schools to sign up for the year-long campaign are Wrockwardine Wood Infant School, near Telford, and Bomere Heath Primary School, near Shrewsbury. Both want parents and locals to help.

Sue Teale, at Wrockwardine Wood Infant School, said: “I am starting an allotment with some of the children at our school as part of a lunchtime club, and would like to register us with the Star Gardens please.”

Bomere Heath Primary School key stage teacher, Barbara Parry, said the school already had vegetable gardens.

One school hoping to make progress is The Bridge Special School, at Hadley, in Telford & Wrekin.

Diane Hasell, assistant head teacher, said: “We wish to convert a grassed area into a garden with our 11 to 16 year olds in the Star Gardens campaign, with the RHS.

“We aim to link this garden with our work on healthy living. Our pupils all have learning difficulties – severe or complex – and this will be a major project which I’m sure will benefit most of them.

“We would be very grateful for any support or help that we can get from commercial organisations as getting our pupils involved with the community or interacting with other people is very important for their communication and self-esteem.”

To be put in contact with schools or to register a school for Star Gardens, e-mail arichardson@shropshirestar.co.uk or telephone (01952) 241429.