WEST MIDLANDS PUPILS CREATE ‘MEALBARROWS’ HIGHLIGHTING GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES

Marking this year’s summer show, BBC Gardeners’ World Live has relaunched its local wheelbarrow design competition, inviting children from selected schools across the West Midlands, to create a unique and thought-provoking wheelbarrow display that will feature at the show taking place 15 – 18 June at Birmingham’s NEC.

This year’s ‘mealbarrow’ theme focuses on highlighting climate change and the ongoing impact on food production around the globe. Working with over 40 schools across the West Midlands, the brief has been to explore and grow edible plants and vegetables, spotlighting issues faced by climate change.

The annual competition, which is now in its seventh year, is an initiative from Health for Life, a programme which encourages healthy eating, cooking and vegetable growing, alongside physical activity, and is funded by Mondelēz International and delivered by The Conservation Volunteers and Services For Education in Birmingham. As part of a fun and engaging way to get school children interested in growing their own produce, they have been tasked with thinking of creative ways for their fruit, vegetables, and herbs to grow, whilst reflecting ways in which the climate change issue is being tackled around the world. Following months in the making, their creations are set to go on display to thousands of visitors at the highly anticipated BBC Gardeners’ World Live show later this month.

Over the four-day show, the ‘mealbarrow’ designs will be judged by an esteemed panel of horticultural experts including designers Paul Stone and Kim Parish, as well as botanical plant expert, Saul Walker, who will honour the winning school wheelbarrows. Additionally, the Public Choice Award will be voted on throughout the Show, for visitors to nominate their favourite.

Lucinda Anderton, Higher Level Teaching Assistant at Nonsuch Primary in Wood Leasow, Birmingham, said: “Our pupils have really embraced the wheelbarrow competition. Over the last few weeks, they have been busy planning, planting, and nurturing their plants from seed. This year, we have been using two growing methods, hydroponics in a growing tower and soil.

“It’s been great to see the children learn the valuable skill of looking after plants, with the rewarding outcome of producing fresh fruit and vegetables. We’re really looking forward to revealing our delicious ‘mealbarrow’ at the show!”

Kelly Farrell, community affairs manager at Mondelēz International, said: “Health for Life is a long-standing and rewarding healthy lifestyle scheme for schools in the area. We’re very proud to be running the school wheelbarrow competition again this year and hope pupils are looking forward to seeing their creations on display at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live”.

The four-day BBC Gardeners’ World Live event, which will take place from 15 -18 June at the NEC, is an inspirational day out for budding gardeners and enthusiasts. Packed with stunning show gardens, on-stage demos, live entertainment and shopping, there’s plenty to see and do at this year’s show. Featuring green-fingered royalty including Monty Don, Carol Klein, Adam Frost and so much more.