Garden State

New school garden competition launches for Grow Your Own Picnic 2015

Grow Your Own Picnic 2015 will feature the new Grow Your Own School Garden Competition, and you don’t need to be a green-fingered expert to win.

Judged by BBC TV gardener, Chris Collins, the competition is aimed at London schools that aren’t yet growing food. First prize includes £500 worth of gardening equipment, half a day with a garden expert, a corporate garden volunteer day at the school, and a professional case study about the school’s new garden journey.

Eligible schools can enter by setting up a school gardening task group, planning a new school growing space, identifying local school community support and making a gardening equipment wish list.

Grow Your Own Picnic 2015 takes place during the summer 2015 term, and is a celebration of summer, sunshine and food growing in London schools. Schools can download a free 30-page schools activity pack, full of growing and cooking activities, learning opportunities, competitions, events and freebies. As the grand finale, schools can then share a delicious home-grown lunch with students, staff and the local community – on their very own Grow Your Own Picnic Day to end the summer term.

For more information about all Grow Your Own Picnic 2015 activities visit and to download the activity pack go to foodgrowingschools.org/events/picnic.