The Soil Association and Pukka Herbs have unveiled a new project to get school children growing their own organic herbs alongside their parents and grandparents.
Launched on 20 March, the Know Your Roots campaign marks Grandparent Gardening Week and will see nursery and primary school pupils learning growing skills from the older generations.
The scheme is aimed at promoting intergenerational links and knowledge of food and the environment, as well as encouraging kids to spend more time outdoors.
Research by the Wildlife Trust has found that the current generation of children has less contact with nature than ever before. Nearly 60 per cent spend less time outdoors than their parents, and only 46 per cent enjoy activities in nature with their parents or grandparents.
James Cashmore, director of the Soil Association’s Food for Life programme, said: “We are delighted to be working with Pukka to create opportunities for children to experience the joys and benefits of growing, and for older people to pass on skills that will help ensure knowledge is passed down and resurrected in our future generations.
“Intergenerational learning is a great way of breaking down barriers and builds understanding between the old and young. The exchange of ideas benefits all, through learning from the past and looking to the future.”
Further explaining its motivation for the project, the Soil Association said growing low-maintenance plants like herbs at home promotes positive health and nutrition, while contributing to a diverse diet.
The organic campaign group is also hoping to connect the next generation with food provenance and overall health. It cited research from the University of the West of England, which found that pupils who grow their own vegetables in school are more likely to increase their fruit and veg intake, become more aware of the links between food growing and the environment, and have better attention and attainment levels at school.
The campaign is part of Pukka’s commitment to ‘1% for the Planet’, a global network of businesses and not-for-profits addressing environmental issues affecting climate, food, land, pollution, water and wildlife.
The Know Your Roots project will run until July.
