Waitrose in three year deal to sponsor RHS's 'Campaign for School Gardening'

Waitrose has announced a three year headline sponsorship of the Royal Horticultural Society's "Campaign for School Gardening". With over a million children* in the UK already benefiting from the RHS's "Campaign for School Gardening", the new sponsorship is aimed at helping the society to get eighty per cent of UK primary schools growing fruit and vegetables by the end of 2010.

The Campaign for School Gardening teaches pupils about plants and gardening, while providing resources to help teachers gain the knowledge and skills needed to teach the National Curriculum outdoors and inspire their pupils to live greener lifestyles. Habits Teachers say that gardening activities help to raise pupils' awareness of how to care for the environment, claims Waitrose, whilst also improving children's behaviour, social skills and confidence. By getting schools gardening, Waitrose and the RHS aim to help schools take the curriculum outside, whilst also changing the eating habits of the nation's children. Waitrose will be raising awareness for the RHS campaign this year through a series of events across the UK. With food education and nutrition at the heart of each event, pupils will     learn how to care for the environment as well as fuelling their curiosity about growing, cooking and healthy eating. Whether a school has a field or a window box, say Waitrose, every child engaged in the scheme will be able to grow fruit and vegetables and have fun whilst learning. Committed Waitrose Managing Director Mark Price, highlighted the broader objectives of the campaign: "With concerns about childhood obesity at its highest now, it's essential that we all take steps to tackle the problem. Showing children where food comes from and helping them to enjoy vegetables and eat healthily is essential. "It's a fantastic scheme, and our sponsorship shows how committed Waitrose is to the health and well-being of our future generations".