Green-fingered pupils turn £5 veg loan into profit

Thomas has been growing lettuce, courgettes, beetroots and cucumbers

Green-fingered schoolchildren have risen to the challenge of growing their own vegetables and selling them for profit.

Year six pupils from Churchdown Village School, Gloucestershire, took part in a project to "grow £5".

Ten members of the school's gardening club were given an initial budget of £5 to buy seeds to grow vegetables which were then sold at the school's farmers' market which helped to bring in a return of £400.

"It's essentially a business loan, so they can decide whether to keep any extra for themselves or give to charity," said club volunteer, Rebecca Henwood.

Thomas, one of the young gardeners, has been growing lettuce, courgettes, beetroots and cucumbers.

"I've enjoyed coming back to school and seeing how everything has grown a lot more.

"Every day at school I come up here and water my plants," he told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

Queenie and Callum want to donate their profits to the new school library

Alfie, another keen member of the club, said he hoped to turn a profit from his crop of garlic.

"I was thinking I could give it to a dog charity because I love dogs and they should be treated well," he said.

Professional gardener, Chris Evans, gave advice to the young club members

The club started 16 years ago and its young members have been given advice from professional gardener, Chris Evans, from Dundry Nurseries, Cheltenham.

"When I was given the chance to help, I was very excited because this is like me going back to when I was their age, when I would be gardening with my dad and grandad," he said.

Ms Henwood said: "Their passion for gardening has truly grown.

"I know one young man who's now got an allotment with his dad, and another one who saved his pocket money to buy himself a greenhouse," she added.