New RHS Report – ‘Gardening in Schools: A Vital Tool for Children’s Learning’

Posted: 22 July 2010

New research by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) conveys the significant impact gardening plays in a child's wellbeing, learning and development. Commissioned by the RHS from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), the report highlights how schools which actively use a garden, develop 'resilient', 'ready to learn' and 'responsible' children; 3R attributes that make up well-balanced, happier, healthy, rounded individuals.

The RHS believes these 3 R's can be learnt when gardening is used as a teaching tool, not just an extra-curricular activity. The NFER surveyed a selection of 1,300 school teachers and studied ten schools belonging to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, from a large urban London primary school to a small village school in Yorkshire, to discover that gardening in schools encourages children to: become stronger, more active learners capable of thinking independently and adapting their skills and knowledge to new challenges at school and in future; gain a more resilient, confident and responsible approach to life so they can achieve their goals and play a positive role in society; learn vital job skills such as presentation skills, communication and team work, and fuel their entrepreneurial spirit; embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle as an important tool for success at school and beyond; and develop the ability to work and communicate with people from all ages and backgrounds.

Visit the website for more details: apps.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening/teachershome/news/researchonschoolgardening.aspa