Marshalls’ Darling Buds Get Tv Treatment Ready For May

The budding horticulturalists from Sawley Junior School, who are joining RHS Chelsea Flower Show sponsor Marshalls plc on their journey to create their 2008 show garden ‘The Marshalls Garden That Kids Really Want!’, recently got one of their first exciting surprises. Unbeknown to them, a BBC film crew turned up at the school to shoot a background piece for the coverage in May. On hand to present was the BBC’s Blue Peter gardener, Chris Collins.

Chris, who has co-hosted the Marshalls Chelsea Project Workshops, ran through on camera the children’s own designs. Asking what motivated them to include particular features in their garden. Covering ideas from a castle, toad rockery, dragon statue and a mud pit (boys will be boys), he then related these ideas back on how they have inspired the Marshalls in-house designer, Ian Dexter, to create his ‘jungalistic’ organic playground.

But that was not all. Next, it was on with hats, coats and Wellington boots for a field trip to Nottingham Arboretum – film crew and all. Here the children were able to get up close with some varieties of plants that would be used in the Chelsea garden and be involved in some of the parks own displays.

Chris Collins commented:

"The whole day has been brilliant. The children have once again got really involved and excited about the world of horticulture. They have not stopped asking questions about the plants and trees we have shown them and it proves that the interest is there we just have to inspire them. I think we have also uprooted some budding presenters in the group, so I had better watch out!"

Christine Turnbull, Head Teacher, Sawley Junior School, said:

"For the children to be involved in a project like this is a real life building experience. The engagement they have shown is infectious and is rippling round the school. Now being filmed by the BBC has just heightened the excitement."

The Marshalls Chelsea Project Workshops were held at schools throughout the UK last year. Presented by Chris Collins and Sven Wombwell, UK TV Gardening personality, it introduced them to horticulture and good landscape design. The children then drew their own dream garden which produced incredible results. All these designs have then been used as a guide to inspire the thinking around Marshalls show garden for 2008.

To find out what is happening next on the school’s incredible journey and the progress of The Marshalls Garden That Kids Really Want! log on to www.marshalls.co.uk/chelsea