Win a gardening kit for your school or nursery worth £160

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87% of British households have a garden, but how many children get to experience a garden as more than just somewhere to play on a trampoline or in a paddling pool?

Here are some scary facts, based on research conducted amongst 300 4-8 year olds*:

  • Over half of British children between 4 and 8 are unable to name 5 vegetables or fruits that could be grown in a garden
  • 95% were unable to name 3 herbs
  • Only 8% able to identify a trowel
  • 79% believed worms are bad for plants 
  • Only 8% had ever picked an apple
  • Only 6% had ever eaten a fresh pea from the pod

This is crazy isn’t it??

When I was little, getting a little patch of soil in the garden to grow my own flowers and vegetables was an absolute joy, and one that as many children as possible should be able to experience, whether or not they have a garden of their own.

It’s why, this month, Get Out and Grow will award school gardening starter kits to 20 schools nationwide, giving young children the chance to have a go at gardening. The kits, which are sponsored by British skincare brand Sudocrem, will include children’s wheelbarrows, gardening gloves, mini-trowels, seeds and lessons on how to make the most of a school garden.

school gardening kit

A school garden can bring all kinds of positive benefits to a school, improving well-being amongst children, and having an impact on behaviour too. Take The Benjamin Adlard Primary School, run by headmaster Sam Coy.

The school was previously rated by Ofsted as one of Britain’s worst schools but four years and one school garden later, and the Gainsborough school has won the national Pearson award for School of the Year: Making a Difference.

win gardening equipment for schools
Headmaster Coy believes that the garden has had a massive impact on the school, improving behaviour as well as giving children the opportunity to spend more time outside and learn about the outdoors and gardening.

“The children absolutely love den-building,” he says, “just generally getting dirty and nature hunts. One child recently told me that he loves going to the forest school on a Tuesday afternoon so much as it helps him to behave all week as he never wants to not be able to go.”

gardening equipment for schools

Win gardening equipment for your school or nursery

Sudocrem and the Get Out And Grow project have very generously given me one school gardening kit to give away, worth £160, which contains everything you need for your nursery or school to get started, including:

– Children’s wheel barrow
– Small watering can
– One large spade and fork
– Six kids’ trowels
– Six small hand forks
– Six pairs of kids’ gardening gloves

Primary schools and nurseries within the UK are eligible to enter, so if you have a child, grandchild or other small chum on whose behalf you’d like to enter, just complete as many of the entry mechanisms as you can in the widget below. The more you do, the higher your chances of winning the gardening kit for the nursery or primary school of your choice.

The competition will close at 11.59pm on June 18th. Full T&Cs apply.
Good luck!

Win a gardening kit for your school worth £100

school gardening kit

*Research was conducted amongst 300 children, nationwide, aged between 4 and 8 years old.

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105 Comments

  1. Jenny L
    4 June, 2019 / 5:53 pm

    Mine absolutely love their vegetable patch and it’s ideal as they pick and eat their produce… couldn’t get them to eat spinach before but now they can snip it and eat it, they LOVE it!

  2. 4 June, 2019 / 6:00 pm

    We need kids to get involved in gardening so we encourage the next generation to appreciate nature, wildlife and where our food comes from.

  3. CLAIRE MEREDITH
    4 June, 2019 / 6:02 pm

    Getting kids outside as much as possible is so important these days. Our school has a forest school which I think 99% of the children would say is the highlight of their week!

  4. 4 June, 2019 / 6:16 pm

    My children’s school holds an annual potato contest. Each class plant potatoes at the beginning of the season to see which class can produce the biggest yield

  5. 4 June, 2019 / 6:43 pm

    It’s definitely important for kids to know that food doesn’t just come in packs from the shop! My kids love being out in the fresh air, and the youngest loves weeding – cuts down on screen time and constant calls of ‘i’m Bored!’.

  6. Melanie Daniels
    4 June, 2019 / 6:46 pm

    My kids love gardening! I think it’s great as they get to plant seeds, see how they grow and enjoy the produce. Their favourites are strawberries and sunflowers as they can see fast results! If love to win this for my daughter’s school as they have a gardening club that is always asking for tools, seeds, equipment etc.

  7. Iain Maciver
    4 June, 2019 / 6:46 pm

    great learning skills for growing produce

  8. Kate Sutton
    4 June, 2019 / 7:06 pm

    They need to learn how to take responsibility for growing foods

  9. Bethan Turner
    4 June, 2019 / 7:31 pm

    My daughter’s school, West Monkton Primary, have just set up space for a school farm and forest school – the school moved site 2 years ago and all the builders left them with was a muddy field – no grass, no plants, no trees – so they have fundraised and also managed to get donations of plants, tyres and wood chip for mulch The kids are already benefitting from outside learning and with tools they would be able to get involved in growing so much more!

  10. babisham09
    4 June, 2019 / 8:11 pm

    Gardening is excellent way to help a child’s mental well being and very educational as they learn about plants, sow, take care of and taste the final produce. Gardening is a great way to get children outside, get some fresh air and a good boost of vitamin D.

  11. 4 June, 2019 / 8:11 pm

    I think it’s good for kids to garden and find out the fruit and veg don’t just come from supermarkets

  12. Waterworth Fiona
    4 June, 2019 / 8:25 pm

    Our school encourages them to grow vegetables, it teaches them how to look after seedlings and gives them a sense of responsibility, and they love to see whose has grown the most.

  13. Dawn Gould
    4 June, 2019 / 8:25 pm

    I think it’s important for children to know where their food comes from so they have more appreciation for it. I also think they’re more likely to try food that they have grown themselves and trying is the first step to then eating it regularly!!

  14. 4 June, 2019 / 8:29 pm

    My grandchildren love helping me in the garden, they now eat a wider range of veg. It gets them outdoors and off their gadgets too

  15. Angela L Paull
    4 June, 2019 / 9:17 pm

    I think it’s so important to teach kids where their fruit and veg comes from. It’s a great way to get them outdoors and getting hands on!

  16. Margaret Gallagher
    4 June, 2019 / 9:35 pm

    So many reasons ! Developing skills – learning about nature and wildlife – a sense of achievement when things start to grow

  17. Solange
    4 June, 2019 / 9:53 pm

    Provides a fun source of exercise and teaches responsibility.

  18. Helen Thurston
    4 June, 2019 / 10:01 pm

    Nothing beats getting hands-on with gardening, learning about and respecting the earth can only be a good thing

  19. Catherine Bullas
    4 June, 2019 / 10:11 pm

    My kids love gardening, it gets them outside, interested in nature and also by growing their own fruit and veg it teaches them about food and gives them a sense of achievement.

  20. Christine Knowler
    4 June, 2019 / 10:19 pm

    We have a TA at our school that gets the children involved in planting whether it be vegetables or flowers. She would love this amount of equipment for them

  21. Rebecca Nisbet
    4 June, 2019 / 11:01 pm

    Firstly it gets them outside, off their tablets and laptops, secondly its important they learn about gardening, why we need flowers and the importance of preserving nature.

  22. Astra coath
    5 June, 2019 / 4:13 am

    I think it’s so important that children know where their food comes from, we have a veg patch and the girls love digging and picking the fruit and veg that come from it especially the raspberries! We have fruit trees also and they love watching everything grow!

  23. 5 June, 2019 / 7:13 am

    its a great way for them to learn about where their food comes from, try the food they grow and eat healthier

  24. jodie w
    5 June, 2019 / 8:35 am

    I think it is important so they can learn how plants grow, and feel the satisfaction of seeing a seed grow into something we can eat.

  25. Carol Boffey
    5 June, 2019 / 8:44 am

    great giveaway

  26. 5 June, 2019 / 9:37 am

    Kids need to get outside more and gardening is great fun, it lets them ‘help’ the grownups and learn about their environment x

  27. julie c
    5 June, 2019 / 9:38 am

    its important to understand how things grow, be it food for flowers, and its rewarding too

  28. Angela treadway
    5 June, 2019 / 10:53 am

    teaches them nurturing how to look after things x

  29. Steph Louise Gibson
    5 June, 2019 / 10:58 am

    Its important because gardens and nature are all around us. The Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) at my son and daughters Primary school is a Programme which addresses all of the areas schools but mainly their play opportunities and how these help students in the classroom. The school is expanding its play equip including a large mud pit on the field and a secret garden outsider and all children are encouraged to bring in their wellies. This equipment will help them on their journey

  30. Lindsey Stuart
    5 June, 2019 / 12:30 pm

    Gardening is really important for little ones to get in to, they can learn about all different plants and species,
    We love gardening and grow our own vegetables, I think it can help learn children about eating healthy.

  31. Ana-Maria Suciu
    5 June, 2019 / 2:29 pm

    Children must understand how a plant is growing from a seed,the bee is important for the flower’s polenisation,they must learn love the nature ,they love everything wich is colourful

  32. Nicola Humphries
    5 June, 2019 / 3:13 pm

    Children need to get back to nature. Getting to understand how food is grown, how plants grow, and how it affects wildlife. I also think it’s good to let them get dirty!

  33. 5 June, 2019 / 3:49 pm

    To understand where food comes from. But more importantly, in this day and age of technology, to get them outside and experience getting dirty whilst having fun and seeing nature around them.

  34. olivia280177
    5 June, 2019 / 5:51 pm

    It’s great to learn about how things grow and how to nurture the plants, as well as the fresh air of course!

  35. Jordan Jarmain
    5 June, 2019 / 6:12 pm

    I think it’s important for children to know where their food comes from and I tend to find kids who grow up seeing a wide variety of fruit and vegetables are more likely to have healthy and varied diets as they get older xx

  36. JULIE WARD
    5 June, 2019 / 6:29 pm

    I think its great when they see their plants grow and they get a product at the end

  37. Charles Fletcher
    5 June, 2019 / 7:05 pm

    I think it is important for children to know where there food comes from and to care about nature and wildlife.

  38. Kate Green
    5 June, 2019 / 7:50 pm

    Anything that encourages children to be outside and enjoy nature is positive. I also think they’re more willing to try vegetables that they’ve been involved in growing

  39. melanie stirling
    5 June, 2019 / 7:58 pm

    They get fresh air,it’s good fun to watch things grow and rewarding.

  40. Emma Nicoll
    5 June, 2019 / 9:45 pm

    Children need to learn where things really come from in nature

  41. Sean eccles
    5 June, 2019 / 10:47 pm

    It’s important they understand the natural process of food production it’s essential to know for basic survival needs and improves our environment and production of food to be ongoing it’s also essential to know to maintain a healthy and good lifestyle and appreciating the growth of the food you are eating

  42. susan smith
    5 June, 2019 / 11:28 pm

    I think the fresh air does them good and seeing their vegetables grow, they might be inclined to eat more veg

  43. Clare B
    6 June, 2019 / 12:09 am

    For my kids it makes them more likely to eat fruit and vegetables (or at least try them!) if they’ve grown them. My daughter’s TA has done amazing work this year turning the metal fire escape balcony thingy outside their classroom into an edible garden, the kids are all really proud of it and it looks so much more cheerful and peaceful for them than it did previously.

  44. Laura Walker
    6 June, 2019 / 7:49 am

    It’s important for them to understand food just doesn’t come from a shop. Hands on gardening really engages little ones and it’s a great way of getting them to try foods they otherwise would avoid

  45. Wiebke Howey
    6 June, 2019 / 1:06 pm

    Gardening is a great way to get kids into the outdoors and nourish a love of nature.

  46. Jo Hutchings
    6 June, 2019 / 5:04 pm

    I think it’s quite calming for children to be able to reconnect with nature.

  47. Laura Wheatley
    6 June, 2019 / 7:02 pm

    It is important for children to learn how things grow, and its great for them to grow something and then eat it! it also gets them out in the fresh air being active. the list goes on there are so many benefits :)

  48. Michaela Turner
    6 June, 2019 / 7:28 pm

    I think it’s something thats not well known amongst youngsters but important to know!

  49. Karl Sinclair
    6 June, 2019 / 7:43 pm

    Our school, gledhow primary, is trying to develop its outside space and learning outside the classroom will form a good part of our own new curriculum. The outdoor space engages all children but particularly those who do not respond as well to standard indoor sessions. There are fewer outdoor experiences for young children and we need to ensure that kids are at one with nature to encourage positive future changes for the sake of our planet.

  50. Nicola Marshall
    6 June, 2019 / 7:53 pm

    My kids love gardening, especially planting things , looking after them and watching them grow. Along with benefiting from the fresh air and watching the seasons change.

  51. Natalie Burgess
    6 June, 2019 / 9:31 pm

    It gets them out in the fresh air, and allows them to learn how plants and flowers grow, getting them involved with nature xx

  52. Tanya Camilleri
    6 June, 2019 / 10:28 pm

    My two live gardening. I think it’s important that they look after their surroundings and learn how things grow

  53. Ursula Hunt
    7 June, 2019 / 10:21 am

    I think gardening and connecting children to the outdoors improves their mental health

  54. michelle caspenenti
    7 June, 2019 / 4:18 pm

    I think its really important for children to understand where their food comes from and not only how it grows but also to learn about the environment too in which it is grown. I think children are more likely to try new tastes if they have grown them themselves and are more likely to help to prepare the food giving them essential life skills from a young age. I also think it helps with nutrition and the teaching of fresh good healthy foods.

  55. Kath
    8 June, 2019 / 5:14 pm

    My two love being out in their grandparents garden’s and helping out. My boy show s a great interest for plants,flowers and anything that growths.
    I think it is very important that Children learn about the great outdoors and how to enjoy, love, grow, take care of whats around them. And have opportunity’s to be part of a magical school garden that each child has had a hand in creating and looking after, with their school friends.

  56. Katherine Parkinson
    8 June, 2019 / 6:32 pm

    Both my kids are little green fingers but my boy shows a great interest and love in plants and flowers and anything that grows.
    I think it is very important that children have a opportunity to learn, about the great outdoors and have a chance to enjoy,love, grow and take care of what is around them. In creating a magical school garden that each child has had a chance of putting there own green fingers too.

  57. Lise Barlow
    8 June, 2019 / 7:02 pm

    Gardening is a brilliant way to get kids into the outdoors and nourish a love of nature.

  58. Claire woods
    9 June, 2019 / 10:16 am

    It’s a good way to learn about nature and caring for it.

  59. Laura Pritchard
    9 June, 2019 / 1:16 pm

    To get them outside and learning where their food comes from.

  60. Maria P
    9 June, 2019 / 6:04 pm

    As they will know more about the plants, and would be involved, they may will be more interested in trying and loving veggies and fruits

  61. Rachel Butterworth
    10 June, 2019 / 2:25 pm

    To be more environmentally friendly, learn about sustainability and being outdoors is good for your mental health.

  62. 11 June, 2019 / 2:45 pm

    Those facts are actually really sad! I still remember the gardens that we had at my primary school and the time that we grew radishes ourselves and then tasted them… that bit wasn’t so good ha! Fab initiative.

  63. Sally T
    11 June, 2019 / 7:16 pm

    To start them on path that will provide them with pleasure for years to come.

  64. Emma Hussain
    12 June, 2019 / 6:28 am

    I think it’s important for kids to learn about how things grow and where they come from. My kids have loved growing plants from seed and seeing them develop

  65. Sammie Richardson
    13 June, 2019 / 9:46 am

    I think it’s important for children to have a go at gardening to help them see how we can be a little more self sufficient by growing our own herbs and veggies and also to enjoy some mucky play, all kids love a bit of messy mucky play.

  66. GEMMA GILL
    13 June, 2019 / 12:28 pm

    This would be an Amazing prize for my 3 babies School/Nursery (attached), Children spend way, I mean way too much time indoors either in front of the TV, computer games ect.. Children need to be out and enjoying the fresh air, and what a lovely way to do this by interacting with friends and teachers doing a spot of Gardening, where the children can get really involved. I think this is a great give away and more competitions should be like this one…Good Job guys…Good luck everyone, and thanks for the chance to win …..

  67. 14 June, 2019 / 8:11 am

    I think gardening is a great skill to have so they can take care of themselves if the environment ends up being so bad that people have to feed themselves! Or just simply to have a little herb garden of their own like mine!!

  68. Sophia
    15 June, 2019 / 8:08 pm

    Gardening is important for children for numerous reasons, including positive mental health, physical health, an appreciation of the effort it takes to produce food, awareness of nature and so on.

  69. Shelley Steggles
    15 June, 2019 / 10:30 pm

    Children need to know the origins of food – not just supermarkets and packets! ive always told my children and shown them where their food comes from, its important for them to understand. They have now started a new gardening club at school – this prize would be amazing for the school!

  70. emma kinsey
    16 June, 2019 / 8:20 am

    gets them outdoors learning life skills

  71. Caroline Shepherd
    16 June, 2019 / 11:14 am

    It’s a really important part of understanding where food comes from and our place in the natural world. It’s brilliant for kids to see how their actions produce results with a little care and patience.

  72. Marie Rungapadiachy
    16 June, 2019 / 3:04 pm

    Gardening teaches children about nature and to care about the environment around them, and that is why I feel that it is so important.

  73. 16 June, 2019 / 6:50 pm

    It’s good for them to learn and plant their own seeds and look after and watch them grow

  74. Gaynor Vincent
    16 June, 2019 / 7:13 pm

    Its important for everyone especially children to learn how to care for living things and growing plants helps this and to learn from where food comes from and the environment – our school love to get the children to grow veg and flowers

  75. Mary Carter
    16 June, 2019 / 11:51 pm

    Gardening keeps children active and promotes healthy eating

  76. James Harris
    17 June, 2019 / 9:40 am

    It’s important so that kids understand where food comes from and that it doesn’t just magically appear in shops.

  77. lorraine kirk
    17 June, 2019 / 11:48 am

    I would love to win this kit for my son’s school. I think gardening is important because it teaches children patience, responsibility and kindness – and also how to look after our planet in a sustainable way

  78. 17 June, 2019 / 12:02 pm

    To help them understand the wonders of nature!

  79. Nadine Holland
    17 June, 2019 / 12:55 pm

    The children I look after love gardening, planting seeds, digging, watering and even weeding. It’s important they know how things grow and how to look after them.

  80. Rebecca Whatmore
    17 June, 2019 / 4:32 pm

    Gardening can be great fun and it makes good bonding time too with the little ones and time away from electronic devices!

  81. christine westlake
    17 June, 2019 / 7:51 pm

    gardening can be great fun, also helps with a healthy life style if you get children to grow their own fruit and veg

  82. Lucie Fish
    17 June, 2019 / 8:15 pm

    My two love helping me in our veg patch. They choose whatveg they would like to grow and eat.

  83. Tricia cowell
    17 June, 2019 / 10:28 pm

    I have just started planting seeds with my Grandson. Its lovely for him to learn how nature works.

  84. Nikki Easton
    17 June, 2019 / 10:30 pm

    As someone who works in early years I think its important for young children to know where food comes from. To help care and nurture something and then to eat it. Theres something special about shelling peas with young children in the sun.

  85. Kirsty Fox
    17 June, 2019 / 10:48 pm

    I am a very keen gardener myself and actively encourage my children to help me in the garden. It is good for them to be outside in the fresh air, watching plants and flowers grow and seeing all the different insects that use the garden and the whole lifecycle of a garden.

  86. Adrian Bold
    18 June, 2019 / 12:50 am

    It’s good to get outside and of course a rewarding experience seeing things grow.

  87. 18 June, 2019 / 6:45 am

    I think gardening is great to teach children as it encourages them to be outdoors plus it teaches them how to care for plants and also where foods come from

  88. Lorna Lyons
    18 June, 2019 / 7:03 am

    I think it is important for children to know where their vegetables come from as with the advances in the modern world & technologies, traditions have been lost and many children today think fruit & veg just come from the shop. Growing your own veg is fun & educational at the same time but also offers children an element of calm & peacefulness in a busy lifestyle. My 4yr old son loves his veggie patch and would be lovely to extended this to all his nursery friends & to make the most of the little piece of outdoors they have left after the council built on the land

  89. Pippa Ainsworth
    18 June, 2019 / 7:31 am

    I think that gardening really helps children to understand where our food comes from, and the process that it undergoes to get to their plate. This can really help children to try new foods and to reduce food waste

  90. 18 June, 2019 / 8:04 am

    I think it’s good for children to learn about what can be grown , it gets them outside into nature . They also should know what is safe and what is poisonous to touch and eat

  91. 18 June, 2019 / 8:26 am

    I work in a nursery and our litle ones just love digging around in the garden, we love finding mini beasts and looking at them with the magnifying glasses. And of course the best bit is eating the fruit and veg that the children have planted and watched grow, Its an important part of our curriculem

  92. Shannon Mostert
    18 June, 2019 / 12:47 pm

    Having grown up on a small holding in south Africa I grew up spending hours outside helping in the garden and with the animals. I encourage my boys to help me in the garden, I feel that they have a great send of achievement when we are able to grow their plants and veggies. I also find they are more likely to eat their veggies when they have grown them themselves

  93. Sarah Saunders
    18 June, 2019 / 1:16 pm

    I think its a great way to teach children about and how to care for their environment. I’m always outside with my two girls who would rather explore outside than do something inside xx

  94. Pia S
    18 June, 2019 / 1:41 pm

    I think it’s important that kids learn where food comes from and what it takes to get it to the table. We’ve been growing vegetables, herbs and berries at home for years and kids do their part with occasional watering and weeding in addition to helping me plant. After all, they love to go and pick fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, why shouldn’t they also care for the plants x

  95. Rachael Sexey
    18 June, 2019 / 4:12 pm

    I think it’s important for children to know where their food comes from and the different items you can grow

  96. zenakate
    18 June, 2019 / 5:42 pm

    My children helped me with my allotment when they were young and it was so good for them. I would love my grandchildren and their friends to experience this and would be lovely to give to their school

  97. toni pearson
    18 June, 2019 / 6:17 pm

    It is great for children to see life and how you take care of it to help it grow. Gardening can also be a very calming, sociable time for children, out in the fresh air, away from technology.

  98. Lorna Wils
    18 June, 2019 / 6:50 pm

    I very valuable teaching to get them involve in learning to grow their own vegetable sand and interest in out door activites whgihc is good for health!!

  99. laura stewart
    18 June, 2019 / 7:59 pm

    so they know how things grow

  100. Tracy B
    18 June, 2019 / 9:03 pm

    Its important for kids to have a go at gardening because apart from getting them outside in the fresh air it’s great fun and educational because it teaches them about the natural world and how plants grow while encouraging them to nurture and respect nature. It’s also very good for children’s mental health

  101. Rebecca Phillips
    18 June, 2019 / 9:28 pm

    It’s great for kids to know exactly where their food is coming from. To be honest, if you asked my own children they’d probably just say “Tesco!”

  102. Richard Saunders
    18 June, 2019 / 9:37 pm

    I think if they build a relationship with nature they will contribute to looking after their planet as the grow up

  103. 18 June, 2019 / 9:47 pm

    It’s really good for kids to get involved in growing their own food because it encourages them to try more fruit and veg, and therefore eat more healthily. Plus it’s great to dig in the dirt!

  104. AndiG
    18 June, 2019 / 11:13 pm

    It’s important to understand where our food comes from and they taste so much better

  105. Natalie Crossan
    18 June, 2019 / 11:15 pm

    My daughter has always had green fingers and she loves getting in touch with nature :)

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