First schools given Titchmarsh grants

13:06:20 25th June 2009

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has revealed the first winners of the Alan Titchmarsh Garden for Schools Award have been handed their prizes.

Each of the 31 schools has received £500 to put towards building agarden or greenhouse project.

The scheme is aimed at encouraging children to learn the skills needed to create their own outdoor space later in life and ties in with the RHS Campaign for School Gardening.

RHS head of education Ruth Taylor explained the organisation "is committed to getting all school children gardening and has seen real benefits of involving children in learning the practical skills of growing plants and learning outdoors".

She added Titchmarsh's involvement gives vital help to the programme, which hopes to cultivate the horticultural experts of the future.

The body recently revealed the results of research into the benefits of talking to plants, with the great-great granddaughter of Charles Darwin found to have the most effective voice of the test group.