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The initiative was started in January 2008 with a Paper to the Bailiwick’s Headteachers. Vale Infant School was the first to contact us and there are now 17 schools
registered. It is our aim to have all the Infant and Primary schools to be included and give as many children as possible
the experience of gardening.
In April 2008 the Council entered into a 3 year sponsorship agreement with the Bedell Group and the
initiative was named The Bedell Group Little green Fingers Schools’ Project. Their funding has enabled us to extend
our activities and we now offer a variety of events throughout the year to widen the children’s gardening skills and
encourage healthy eating and environmental responsibilities. We hope that everyone joins in and has fun. We are here to help
can to offer advice and support through our Members, if required.
This year, every school has been given a large self-watering propagator/ mini-greenhouse with seeds, fertilizer and
compost ready to go. In April States Works will be running workshops to demonstrate how to prick out the new seedlings and
also how to propagate plants. Tina Norman Ross, the State’s Re-cycling Officer will be visiting schools to talk about
composting and there will be the opportunity to visit allotments and private gardens to see vegetables being grown. A cook
and tasting of unusual vegetables is also planned.
These events were tailored to help the children undertake The Challenge, announced by the BBC
gardener, Chris Collins, during his visit in October 2008. This was in the form of a Journal of photographs and stories
of their gardening activities or a computer Presentation to showcase their progress. Each school that entered was given a
prize and the overall winner was St Andrew's Primary School Grounds Club who had the opportunity to visit Government House Gardens and have
a tour of their vegetable garden with the head gardener, Garry le Poidevin. If your school is not registered or if you are interested in specific events, please contact Ann Wragg on 232654
/ a.hw@clara.co.uk or Sarah Brouard on floralguernsey@cwgsy.net
 Schools Enjoy Autumn Bulb Workshop
Island
primary schools have been learning about planting bulbs at the States Works Horticultural site. Phil
Merrien from the department engaged the children in a practical lesson where they got
their hands dirty and learnt about layering and planting bulbs and how other plants are grown and put in public places around
the island.
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