A horticulture student is launching a project to get children growing.

Ross Dyke, from Droitwich, is starting a 'Get Children Growing' pilot project, providing free eco-friendly sunflower grow kits to primary schools across the UK.

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Mr Dyke, a second-year student on the BSc (Hons) Sustainable Horticulture Technology course at Warwickshire College and University Centre (WCUC), was inspired by his part-time job as a crop technician at Bonterre CIC.

This not-for-profit community interest company supports children who struggle with mainstream education.

Mr Dyke noticed the positive impact that outdoor learning and knowledge of plant, fruit, and vegetable growth had on the children.

He said: "I’ve seen just how much children enjoy learning about growing plants and the sense of achievement they get by growing plants such as tomatoes and eventually getting to eat them.

"I’d love to see horticulture on the curriculum, so I wanted to start with a project that will just get children growing in schools."

The project is being launched in partnership with British Garden Centres and Westland Horticulture, with seeds and pots donated by Mr Fothergill’s Seeds, New Leaf Plants, and Webbs Garden Centres.

Mr Dyke is looking for 15 to 25 primary schools to apply for the pilot project to receive one of the compostable, recyclable, biodegradable, and peat-free sunflower grow kits.

The schools selected to take part will also be provided with prizes such as bug hotels and birdhouses to award to their best growers.

All schools that take part in the trial will then be entered into a raffle which will be drawn in June next year, with the winning school receiving a special day with Lee Connelly, the UK’s leading children's gardening educator.

Josh Egan-Wyer, head of horticulture (curriculum and commercial) at WCG, said: "We are extremely proud of Ross who, even at the early stages of his career in horticulture, is trying to support the industry in innovative ways, and we’re always pleased to support our students to drive innovation wherever we can."

Schools can apply for the pilot project by visiting www.theplantpod.co.uk.

For more information about the courses available at WCUC, visit https://wcuc.ac.uk/.