School takes 'no dig' approach to growing veg

Head teacher Ed O'Hara said they were raking over compost but not digging

A primary school in Cornwall has been announced as one of the eight finalists in a sustainable farming competition.

Pupils at Sir Robert Geffery's primary school in Landrake have been making their own compost by collecting manure from the school farm's sheep, chickens, donkeys and guinea pigs.

They have also been avoiding digging into the soil by laying cardboard to mark out vegetable beds which helps to retain nutrients in the soil.

The competition is run by the charity Linking Environment and Farming (Leaf) which has been working with schools to promote sustainable ways of growing vegetables.

Worms have been a hot topic on the school farm

Head teacher Ed O'Hara said: "The children are learning they can save energy by not needing to dig.

"Also, in not disturbing the ground, we are keeping those nutrients that are already in the soil and we're adding to them.

"We're talking to them about research which shows that crop yields are often higher if the soil hasn't been disturbed."

As part of the project pupils shovelled compost into a wheelbarrow to take it to the vegetable beds along with a lot of worms.

One Year 5 pupil said it was hard work.

"You have to put your back into it," the pupil said.