The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) will be returning to RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019 with a Discovery Zone exhibit titled ‘Helping Children Grow’, promoting National Children’s Gardening Week which takes place between 25 May – 2 June 2019.
The exhibit, supported by National Garden Gift Vouchers, will bring to life simple projects which can be used to engage children in gardening whilst fostering their social, emotional and educational development.
Working with National Children’s Gardening Week Ambassador, Chris Collins, the exhibit will include examples of fun and inspiring projects such as edible planters, a pizza wheel, runner bean tipis and a wildlife hotel. This will encourage children, parents and grandparents to have a go – either at home, at school or by going along to their local garden centre to take part in an activity.
This will be backed up with research findings demonstrating the real educational and social benefits associated with involving children in nature, gardening and growing.
Alongside the plants required for the various projects there will be the opportunity to feature five new plants submitted by HTA members – a maximum of three of which will put forward for the RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year Award.
Further updates about how to get involved will be available in the new year at www.hta.org.uk/chelsea2019
National Children’s Gardening Week is an annual festival of fun that’s embraced in homes, schools, and community groups across the country, and supports the amazing Greenfingers charity, which is dedicated to providing magical gardens for children in hospices suffering from life limiting illnesses. In 2018 over 300 garden centres took part. To find out more about participating in 2019 please visit https://www.childrensgardeningweek.co.uk
Photo credit – https://www.childrensgardeningweek.co.uk/