Children spend less time outside than prisoners* so a Brixton gardener is crowdfunding sponsorship to help reverse this disturbing statistic — starting with an innovative garden built by and shared with local schools
The ‘Believe in Tomorrow’ garden project to grow urban kids from acorns to oak trees via RHS Hampton Court Flower Show
As any parent knows, getting kids off screens and into nature can be an uphill battle but one Brixton gardener and five local schools think it’s a fight worth having.
According to the ‘Play In Balance’ report* commissioned by Persil, over 60% of children around the world spend less than 60 minutes outside every day — less than the mandatory time allocated to prison inmates.
In response to this shocking statistic, Seonaid Royall, founder garden design firm Sprout Up has created the ‘Believe in Tomorrow’ project in four parts to bring kids and nature closer together:-
1/ Working with south London schools to teach kids about nature and enjoying gardening as part of a healthy lifestyle. Jubilee Primary School and Richard Atkins Primary School in Brixton, St
Jude’s Primary School in Herne Hill, Christ Church Primary School in Streatham and Holy Trinity Primary School in Tulse Hill are all taking part in the ‘Believe in Tomorrow’ project. 2/ These same school kids will grow the plants and build feature items for a show garden
3/ Landscape the ‘Believe in Tomorrow’ show garden to inspire, excite and enthral children at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show between the 1st and 7th July 2019 . In a world first the project is being funded via Crowdfunder. The finished show garden will be part oasis and part classroom featuring edible planting beds which children can pick from and taste and secret pathways for them to explore. A log arch, fire pit, and pond will offer even more opportunities for kids to learn and be inspired.
4/ After the show, different parts of the garden will be relocated to the schools and communities that helped to build it, giving them permanent access to nature and all the health and wellbeing benefits that go with it.
Seonaid Royall, creator of the ‘Believe in Tomorrow’ project said: -
“’Believe in Tomorrow’ is my vision for the ideal primary school garden. The wider aim of the project is to give children with limited access to nature the chance to get their hands dirty for once and be inspired to spend more time outdoors.
The project has education at its heart and will culminate in a garden that will show RHS Hampton
Court visitors that by just stepping outside you can invigorate and inspire children”.
To become a supporter of the ‘Believe in Tomorrow’ garden please visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/believe-in-tomorrow
For more information about Sprout Up please visit https://www.SproutUp.co.uk and follow the project on Twitter @SproutUpGarden and Insta @Sprout.Up
