National Trust Sowing Squad call on parents to give children a space to grow

New research commissioned by the National Trust has hit upon what might be the perfect way to get children to eat more fruit and veg – letting them grow it themselves.

Frustrated parents everywhere will take heart from the findings which reveal that 72% of children in the UK would like their own space to grow fruit and vegetables and, outside London, 63% of children would rather eat fruit and vegetables they have grown themselves than buy them from a supermarket.

In response, the Trust has created the Sowing Squad – a 13-strong team of super keen young growers from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland – who want to help turn this interest into action and inspire the next generation to get planting.

Last year 88,000 families took home seeds to plant as part of the National Trust’s free Food Glorious Food events and this year the Trust wants even more to benefit.  From the start of May half term, another 170 million free seeds will be given away - equivalent to 2.5 million thyme plants, 3.2 million leaf salads and 2.8 million bunches of carrots.  Tomato seedlings will also be available.

The seeds have been specially selected by the Trust to enable everyone to take part, regardless of whether their garden is big or small.  Thyme, salad leaves and carrots can be grown in containers of all shapes and sizes; from welly boots to old baths.  For those without a garden, window boxes can also be used.

“I love seeing things grow from seeds and having food to pick from the garden,” said Grace Lloyd, one of the Sowing Squad members, aged eight from London.  “Plant your vegetables in batches so you don’t have to eat lots of the same thing at the same time. You could grow tomatoes, potatoes and cucumbers so you don’t get bored of what you’re eating.”

The Squad have got their work cut out as the survey of 1,000 children aged 8-12 years revealed the lengths they go to avoid eating their greens:

42% hide it under other food on their plate

30% throw it in the bin when no-one’s looking

23% sneak it on to someone else’s plate

17% feed it to the family pet

Jenny Sansom, the National Trust’s local food coordinator, says: “Growing your own may be the secret to encouraging children to eat their greens, and not a naughty step in sight. Our research shows that, if given the space, the vast majority of children would love the chance to plant and nurture food they have grown from scratch. 

“You don’t need much space to get started and children are much more likely to try food they have planted and grown themselves. The whole family will benefit from the freshest and tastiest food possible, and it’s great fun too, which is a real plus.”

The survey findings also revealed that topping the list of favourite vegetables for children was sweetcorn, followed by potatoes and carrots, all of which can be grown in the UK. Strawberries were top of the league table for most loved fruit but the poor Brussels sprout remains children’s most hated vegetable.

The great seed giveaway will take place at family events across the UK. To find your nearest property visit www.foodgloriousfood.org.uk.  The campaign website retains its virtual vegetable patch – where children can grow carrots, tomatoes and lettuce in real time and receive regular advice as their free seeds grow in their soil.

Food Glorious Food is part of the National Trust's overall commitment to sustainable food production on all land, and the use of quality, local, seasonal and sustainable food in its kitchens and 150 restaurants.

Top tips from the Sowing Squad

1.       Put CDs near your plants hanging from sticks because it keeps the birds away. Ben Strange, 9, Sussex

2.       Plant your vegetables in batches so you don’t have to eat lots of the same thing at the same time! You could grow tomatoes, potatoes and cucumbers so you don’t get bored of what you’re eating. Grace Lloyd, 8, London

3.       If you’re planning on growing pumpkins then wear gloves when you look after them as the leaves are sticky and spiky. Tegan Minshull, 8, Lincolnshire

4.       Don't break off the white long stem things on potatoes before planting them, they are meant to be there!  Ryan Brown, 9, Norfolk

5.        Most seeds will grow a plant so don't plant them too close together, they need room to get big. Jade Brown, 10, Norfolk  

6.       Thinning out the vegetables, particularly carrots, in the middle of the season or sowing thinly at the beginning of the growing season seems strange if you’re a first-timer, but once you see your crop you'll be glad you’ve done it because it gives space for the vegetables to grow well.  Joel Wallace, 9, Northern Ireland

7.       My top tip is that you have to be dedicated. You can't just plant a few seeds and hope for the best, you have to care for your plants and feed and water them if you want to get delicious food at the end of the season. But it's always worth the hard work in the end! Daniel Anderson, 12, Lancashire

8.       It never matters if things do not go well or insects or birds destroy the seedlings or crops because you can just sow the seeds and start again. Strawberries will grow back, even if they’re scoffed by slugs the first time around! Margaret Kelly, 8, Devon

9.       My top tip would be to make sure you have plenty of worms in your garden and visit it every day to check on the plants. Treat them like your pets! Reuben Squirrell, 8, Dorset

10.   I would recommend you start to grow easier things first like carrots and potatoes and then grow the harder things when you have already grown something and you’ve seen results. Alex Wetton, 11, Shropshire

Food Glorious Food is part of the National Trust's overall commitment to sustainable food production which also includes The Growing Spaces campaign to create 1,000 new allotments; the ‘Eat Seasonably’ campaign to promote seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables; alongside sustainable food production on all land and the use of quality, local, seasonal and sustainable food in kitchens and restaurants.

Last year, Food Glorious Food gave away 170 million seeds and held events throughout the Summer to help people grow their own food. During launch week, the new Food Glorious Food website, the first of its kind for the National Trust, www.foodgloriousfood.org.uk saw one person signing up for an online garden patch every two minutes, creating 1,250 virtual farmers.

The Trust uses quality, local, seasonal and sustainable food in its 150 restaurants and tea-rooms, which serve over 8 million people every year. Where possible, produce is sourced from the land immediately around a property; fruit, herbs and vegetables from the kitchen gardens and meat from quality herds managed by tenant farmers.

The National Trust is involved in the whole food chain, with 500,000 acres of food producing land, over 150 restaurants and tearooms, and historic kitchen gardens, orchards and mills. The charity has community growing spaces – from allotments to kitchen gardens – at over 50 locations around the country and is increasing these annually.  These spaces inspire the Trust’s 3.8 million members, 56,000 volunteers and visitors to think and learn about food.  The National Trust is creating 1,000 new allotment plots on its land to give local communities the space to grow their own fruit and vegetables.  Find out more at: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/food.

[1] 1000 children aged 8-12 were surveyed across England, Wales and Northern Ireland about ‘growing their own’. Children were interviewed in April 2010