While each of us can encourage this interest individually, we need not do so in isolation. Happily, more and more school gardening projects are springing up, reinforcing the joys to be found in digging, planting, and growing – and we couldn’t be more wildly approving. In a world increasingly disconnected from nature, school gardening initiatives offer a way to root young people in the rhythms of the earth, teaching patience, care, and joy in nourishment.
Across the UK, a growing number of schemes and resources are helping schools reclaim green spaces and transform them into vibrant outdoor classrooms – it’s just a case of knowing they exist and encouraging schools to get involved. These initiatives foster confidence, teamwork, responsibility, and a deep appreciation for the natural world. Here, we highlight some of the most inspiring programmes helping schools blossom into miniature Edens.
RHS Campaign for School Gardening
The Royal Horticultural Society, stalwart of Britain’s green-fingered tradition, leads the charge with its Campaign for School Gardening. With free seeds, lesson plans, and a beautifully tiered School Gardening Awards system, the RHS empowers teachers to guide children through the wonder of cultivation. Their approach is joyful and inclusive, encouraging students to grow their own food and learn life-long skills. It’s not just about growing plants; it’s about growing young minds. Even better, it’s all free. Get involved.
Food for Life – Soil Association
The Soil Association’s Food for Life programme offers a cornucopia of opportunities for schools. From setting up cooking and gardening clubs to arranging farm visits, the programme connects the dots between soil and supper. It’s a hands-on initiative that brings the farm-to-fork story alive for children – especially vital in an era when many are increasingly distanced from where food comes from. Get involved.
Learning Through Landscapes
If you’ve ever watched a child learn more in ten minutes of mud play than in an hour at a desk, you’ll understand the mission of Learning Through Landscapes. This visionary charity champions outdoor learning with resources, training, and grants – including the generous Local Schools Nature Grants in Scotland and Wales. Their belief is simple but transformative: children thrive when they learn with nature, not just about it. Get involved.
The Country Trust
Working in partnership with the National Garden Scheme, The Country Trust ensures that all children have the opportunity to connect with food, farming, and the countryside, regardless of background. Through its Food Discovery Programme, it offers meaningful, sensory experiences that can change the way children see the world and their place in it. For many, it's their first encounter with fresh soil, homegrown vegetables, and the transformative delight of nurturing life. Get involved.
Garden Organic
With a mission to inspire sustainable growing for all, Garden Organic brings a wealth of educational tools to the school playground with resources for starting organic growing and composting. It’s a wonderful way to teach children about ecosystems, biodiversity, and the importance of soil health, all while getting their hands deliciously dirty. Applications are now closed for 2025’s Local School Nature Grants Scheme which provides £500 worth of outdoor resources, plus a two-hour training session – but now is the moment to get your ducks in a row ready for next year. Get involved.
Social Farms & Gardens
Community is at the heart of Social Farms & Gardens, which supports school and neighbourhood growing spaces across the UK. Their guidance and advocacy help schools become part of something larger: a national movement that celebrates community spirit and shared knowledge. Get involved.
The Great Plant Hunt & Grow Your Own Potatoes – Edina Trust
The Great Plant Hunt is a delightful initiative by the Edina Trust that brings together botany with adventure. Designed to support the primary science curriculum, it invites children to explore the plant kingdom in ways that feel like treasure hunts.
Meanwhile, the Grow Your Own Potatoes scheme proves that big learning can come from humble spuds. By providing schools with free potato growing kits and lesson plans, it introduces students to the lifecycle of food in a tangible, thrilling way. There’s something utterly magical about lifting a plant and discovering a clutch of potatoes hidden beneath. Get involved.
