Green (Living) Review: Bulldog supports RHS schools drive

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

UK tool manufacturer, Bulldog Tools, has signed up to support the Royal Horticultural Society’s Campaign for School Gardening for a further 18 months.

Through a monthly prize draw, Bulldog Tools is offering children’s rake and hoe sets to schools that successfully complete Level Two of the RHS campaign. In total, 500 sets will be given out, equaling a support package worth over £10,000.

The RHS Campaign for School Gardening launched in 2007 and now has over 14,500 schools and education centers and -establishments registered to it. The RHS believes gardening does not just only teaches children about the environment and where food comes from but also the life skills of responsibility, resilience and readiness to learn.

The Campaign teaches pupils about plants and gardening, while providing resources to help teachers make the most of their school garden to teach the National Curriculum outdoors and inspire their pupils to live greener lifestyles.

Each school that joins the campaign is encouraged to develop a garden and use it as a teaching resource for all its pupils. Teachers are asked to demonstrate how well the garden has been incorporated into school life by completing a benchmarking scheme which runs from level one to five, with prizes awarded at each level.

Schools that reach Level Two, and so are eligible for a prize from Bulldog Tools, are able to demonstrate that work has begun on their garden.

Bulldog Tools will reward schools who reach RHS benchmark 2 with a free Rake & Hoe from the children’s gardening range worth up to £20. Schools will also be able to claim a 30% discount off the junior Spade & Fork to complete the set.