The Royal School shared its grounds and outdoor learning facilities when it welcomed more than 600 children to its eighth free Grow For It! with Alan Titchmarsh.

Alan said, ‘It is all about connecting children with nature, the environment, the outdoors. We are so aware now of things we shouldn’t do, like the damage caused by plastic, but this event is about what we should be doing… pottering about outside, encouraging children to get muddy and find worms. Young children experience life in such a sensory way that a vivid impression can last forever – the smell of a plant, the feel of soil, the quietness that can be found in a garden – there is a joy, a delight and a spiritual uplift that can be found by us all. The wonders of the great outdoors are ours to be giving to the next generation and they need to be prepared for the responsibility.

‘Grow For It! is so successful because it gives children a wide range of different activities that really engage them. They love collecting the activity stamps, finding the bugs, the pond life, discovering new parts of the woods on the nature trail… this is why so many families come back year after year. Parents and grandparents are keen as well, they want their children to learn about nature. It is also important to us that this is a free event, open to all with children under 11. All the Royal School staff give up their Saturday so it is truly a whole community event and a most enjoyable one!’ commented Alan.

The event runs every May and is supported by Waitrose. This year the activities included annual favourites such as the bug hunt, pond dipping and planting with Alan Titchmarsh; some activities returned from previous years like growing a grass head and making dream catchers. New events were building a wormery and making boggarts out of clay and a most popular addition was The Gruffalo who enjoyed showing families around the nature trail.

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