The Association of Gardens Trusts
the national charity representing the 36 County Gardens Trusts in the care and conservation
of the historic designed kandscape
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11th March South West Region Annual Education Conference Hosted by Somerset Gardens Trust
held at Hestercombe Garden Taunton.
Conference Report 
17th March South East Educaton Meeting hosted by Surrey Gardens Trust to be held at Painshill Park.
Conference Report
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All little children love gardens!
The AGT aims to help schools and parents stimulate their
children with garden visits
and by improving school grounds
with support from County Gardens Trust volunteers.
The Healthy Schools Programme
There has never been a better time to approach schools and encourage them to have a garden in their grounds. The Healthy Schools Programme is one of the most important part of the school term with all primary schools having the health of their pupils at the heart of their outdoor plans. This covers many things from drugs, bullying, smoking etc. but for us, it is the sections on diet, exercise, fresh air and healthy eating. Children are to be encouraged to grow and cook their own vegetables; where there is no kitchen they are talking about mobiles visiting. We are seriously going back to basics and this is the time to inform your schools that you are there to help. There is an idea to take children on visits to local restaurants to see how food is cooked, to farms to show how their food is grown, so why not gardens and allotments? There is a whole chapter on Growing Clubs in a folder given to schools by your local LEA (Local Education Authority) or PCT (Primary Care Trust). Every County has a Healthy School Co-ordinator who usually has a team who work in conjunction with the NHS and the Department of Education and Skills. Some counties have a newsletter sent out by this team and you might like to write an article in yours about how you could get involved. Make yourself known. The bandwagon awaits!
Juliet Wilmot
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Anyone seeking assistance on garden and landscape education matters
should not hesitate to contact Juliet Wilmot, the AGT Schools Education Adviser
The Garden Lodge, Chittoe, Chippenham SN15 2EW
phone or fax +44(0) 1380 850314
email: juliet.wilmot@zeronet.co.uk 
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Packed with over 50 project ideas and recipes, Kids in the Garden encourages children to learn about gardening, healthy eating and caring for the environment in a simple and engaging way. With easy to follow, step-by-step instructions, colourful photography and fun illustrations, Kids in the Garden will appeal to children of all ages and their parents. Covering a range of gardening topics such as harvesting seasons, encouraging wildlife in your garden, growing plants from seed, and the water cycle, Kids in the Garden is ideal for any inquisitive youngster, whether already green-fingered or a complete gardening novice.
SOMERSET GARDENS TRUST EDUCATIONAL GRANTS
The
Somerset Gardens Trust offers grants for conservation and similar projects, and
bursaries to help with research and academic and practical training connected
with Somerset. Since introducing these schemes, the Trust has
supported with grants of £1000 each an expedition by students at Newcastle
University to Peru working in conjunction with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew for the study of
medicinal plants that was led by a student who normally resides in Somerset and
has helped a group of students at Cannington Agricultural
College travel tour to Holland. The Trust has also offered support to a Somerset resident
working on a horticultural related project in Nicaragua.