Somerset school kids get ‘green finger’ help

Children at a school in Somerset have been visited by two ‘green-fingered’ Inspectors from South West rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual, as part of the highly successful ‘Dig Down South West’ campaign.

Somerset-based Inspectors Nick Howe and Joff von Tyszka (pictured) volunteered and took time out of their busy schedules to roll up their sleeves and help children at Wookey Primary School to harvest some of the vegetables they have been growing and help them to tend their gardens.

Wookey Primary School was one of seven schools in Somerset to receive its own vegetable garden from the ‘Dig Down South West’ initiative, supported by Cornish Mutual. The project was launched earlier this year by well-known TV gardening expert Charlie Dimmock.

Nick Howe from Cornish Mutual commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to have given some of our time to help with the campaign which is aimed at encouraging youngsters across Somerset to grow their own. It was great to visit the school today, to get involved and to see what they’ve been doing.

“It’s so important for children to understand that growing and eating fresh fruit and vegetables is the key to a healthier lifestyle. Through ‘Dig Down South West’ we hope to help build their knowledge and nurture their enthusiasm for the future.”

50 vegetable gardens have been created in schools across the region, as a key part of ‘Dig Down South West’. The objective of the project is to help primary school children, between the ages of five and eight, to take an active interest in gardening and learn about the benefits of growing their own produce.

Clive Rockell, teacher at Wookey Primary School added: “Our school garden is looking great, like a showcase garden thanks to the help of ‘Dig Down South West’. We have already harvested salad, strawberries and carrots and this week we’ve been digging up our competition potatoes (The Potato Council). We’ve also made an archway of hazel for the sweet peas with the older children and willow dragonflies with the younger ones. We’re really grateful to the team at Cornish Mutual for all their help and support through this really great initiative.

“I’d also like to thank one of our parents in particular, Fenella Williams, for all her fantastic and hard work. She has been the fulcrum to the great work that’s been happening and we’re so grateful for her involvement and enthusiasm throughout.”

Cornish Mutual is the only general insurer based in the South West and provides a broad range of insurance cover for rural communities in the region, www.cornishmutual.co.uk.

No related posts.