Michael Fabricant met staff and pupils from Scotch Orchard and Saxon Hill schools in Lichfield – just two of the 4 schools participating – at Waitrose on Darwin Park in Lichfield to launch their national ‘Grow and Sell’ initiative. Seed kits and compost were presented to four of our local primary schools to encourage 7 to 11 year olds grow their own produce and then sell it to Waitrose customers to raise funds for their schools.

Michael says: “Even in a rural area like Lichfield, too many children don’t really understand from where their food originates. So these ‘Grow and Sell’ seed kits will help children understand better the origins of nutricious and tasty food. This is an excellent initiative and I was pleased to meet children and teachers from Saxon Hill School and Scotch Orchard School in Lichfield and the staff at Waitrose in Lichfield who are helping them with this exciting project.

“The initiative, in association with the Waitrose farm on the Leckford Estate in Hampshire, aims to inspire more than 100,000 children across the UK to grow their own produce during the summer months. The children will learn more about where food comes from, the impact of seasons, and develop entrepreneurial skills. The kit has been specially designed to get school vegetable patches up and running, and includes seeds, equipment and step-by-step growing instructions” says Michael.

Schools will also be able to receive additional ‘Grow and Sell Seed Kits’ through Waitrose’s in-store Community Matters Scheme, where customers can support their local schools, and other good causes, by dropping a green token into the Community Matters box.

Mark Price, Managing Director of Waitrose adds: “Alan Titchmarsh, recently came on board to help us raise the profile of British agriculture and horticulture. Alan is passionate about teaching children at an early age about the food they eat and where it comes from. This scheme will play an important role in helping children in Lichfield and elsewhere understand the journey from field to plate and evidence shows those who participate in growing projects are more likely to eat a wider variety of foods and make good nutritional choices throughout their lives.”

Photograph shows children and a teacher from Scotch Orchard School in Lichfield; Michaelf Fabricant with Diane Smith of Waitrose who organises their community projects in Lichfield; and children and staff from Saxon Hill School in Lichfield.