It’s time to pick up a trowel and get planting – the Woodie’s Budding Gardeners competition for primary schools is back!
This year there’s two groups that can take part; junior cycle is junior infants to 2nd class and senior cycle is 3rd class up to 6th class.
Registration is now open at www.Woodies.ie/Budding-Gardeners – the first 2,000 teachers to sign their class up to take part will receive a FREE starter kit!*
This year, classes have been asked to take on a garden project – create a garden no bigger than 1.5 metres x 1.5 metres.
The class can decide what type of a garden they want to work on and where works best to put it. It could be big and bright flowerpots grouped together in the yard, revamping an existing vegetable patch in the school, or maybe it’s some recycled containers growing herbs in the corner of a classroom.
The project will be completed in three easy phases:
- Sow it – The first phase opens on the 10th of March and this stage is all about the planning. What will it look like, where will it go? Is there a theme? It’s totally up to you! Once you have a plan, you can start sowing the seeds to get it going.
- Grow it – this phase begins on 10th April and is all about minding and nurturing your garden. You need to make sure everything is well watered so it can grow strong.
- Show it – it’s judging time! Get the garden ready for the final finishing touches from 10th May. Maybe you need to pull out a few weeds or deadhead the flowers that are spent now.
Brian Burke returns as the Woodie’s Budding Gardeners this year. Before the end of the school year, Brian will present the winning classes in both groups with a cheque for €2,000 to spend on their school’s garden as well as a Budding Gardeners plaque and trophy.
Throughout the competition, Brian will have lots of helpful tips for the Budding Gardeners at www.Woodies.ie/Budding-Gardeners.
Whatever you decide to do, Woodie’s want to encourage school children to discover the joy of gardening and hopefully cultivate a new hobby that will stay with them for life – having fun and getting creative are the most important parts of the Woodie’s Budding Gardeners campaign!
Woodie’s Budding Gardeners Judge Brian Burke said: “I am delighted that Woodie’s Budding Gardeners is back for a third year – and I am very excited to see what everyone comes up with. The golden rule is to have fun and enjoy the process. I have some tippy top tips for the Budding Gardeners getting started:
- Put your heads together as a class when planning and sowing the garden.
- Take turns as Head Gardeners when you are growing the garden – make sure your plants get lots of TLC so they can grow strong!
- And lastly, get creative and have fun when it comes to showing it!
Now, what are you waiting for? It’s time to flex those green fingers, dig out the gardening tools and get planting!”