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Christine Walkden recommends the Instaplanta system

"I fully recommend the Instaplanta system as units enabling children and people of all ages and abilities to be able to garden wherever they are.

A very practical and cost efficient way of enabling everyone in the community to glean the pleasures and satisfaction of gardening."

Christine Walkden
Horticulturist & BBC TV Gardening Presenter
& Winner of the AoC Gold Award for Further Education Alumni 2009

Digging for victory: schools back gardens plan

Introducing children to gardening at an early age helps them to understand where the food on their table comes from, and research by the RHS suggests it can help improve academic achievement, behaviour and confidence among pupils. It can contribute to the mental and physical health of children.

If all primary schools in the UK started practical gardening, nearly five million children aged four to eleven in 21,500 schools would benefit. Anything from a window box to raised beds or, if there is room, an entire plot on school grounds could could be cultivated.

Ed Balls, former Secretary of State for Schools said: "Young people really enjoy learning outside the classroom, doing practical things and getting their hands dirty...We already know from the success of the DCSF's existing Growing Schools programme that schools recognise the importance of children learning about the environment, where their food comes from and our dependence on natural resources. School gardens can be a great place to teach the curriculum and important life skills."

The current Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove said:
"Gardening is a fantastic activity for primary school children to get outdoors and learn about nature. It's great that they should be encouraged to get involved at a young age."

Dr Ruth Taylor, RHS Head of Education, said:
"School gardens are the linchpin to success in every area of the curriculum, and the benefits will spread through the school and into the wider community."

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