The British Potato Council’s educational project, ‘Grow Your Own Potatoes’, has created enormous interest in primary schools throughout the UK. This year 4,000 schools have registered for the challenge against 1,100 in 2006.
Chris Collins, BBC Television’s Blue Peter gardener, last week launched the 2007 programme nationally at Essendine Primary School, Westminster, London, where he helped year 3 pupils aged 5-6 prepare potatoes for chitting and also provided professional advice on planting techniques.
In 2005 ‘Grow Your Own Potatoes’ was launched against a background of almost unbelievable BPC research revealing that six out of ten children believed that potatoes grew on trees. Through the success of the programme nine out ten children now understand how their potatoes have been grown in the ground.
“Talks by growers to pupils at their schools have often become the highlight of the project,” said project manager Tracy Coult.
Those schools participating in the challenge are supplied with three Rocket potatoes plus a £5 voucher. This covers the cost of a bucket and planting advice whilst teacher support material is provided by a redesigned and comprehensive website. Plants grown by the children can be compared with potatoes grown via a ‘potato cam’.
A teaching, support pack for growers has also been produced by BPC. It includes advice on setting up successful farmer school visits, example presentations, visuals and guidelines for classroom activities and competitions.
“We know that grower visits to schools, explaining how potatoes are grown, has proved extremely popular,” said Tracy Coult.
‘Grow Your Own Potatoes’ is making an impact on the way children view food, and their diets. It can also have a direct influence on the whole family’s shopping habits.
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