City Central BID

Press release - 11 July 2011

Green fingered pupils ready to grow!

Primary school pupils from across Merseyside will come together this Wednesday (13th July) to launch their own city centre market.

The children, from 10 Merseyside schools, have all been taking part in Liverpool’s Big Go and Grow campaign which was organised by St Johns and Clayton Square Shopping Centres, City Central Businesses and Arriva buses.

The initiative saw schools from across the county nominate themselves to say why they should each receive gardening equipment and seeds for their school as well as professional mentoring in setting up an allotment in their schools’ grounds.

Since March the pupils have all been busily tending to fruits, vegetables and flowers which they will sell in order to raise funds for their schools at the market which will take place in Williamson Square from 12.30pm to 3.30pm.

The children will all have the chance to dress up as street traders with special aprons and hats and Liverpool's street traders will be on hand to offer support and advice on how to sell goods to the public.

Lord Mayor of Liverpool Councillor Frank Prendergast will also pay the children a visit to see the results of their hard work and to present a number of prizes for their efforts.

One school will win a competition which has been run by Arriva buses challenging children to think about how travelling by public transport can help the environment. Pupils were tasked with designing a green themed artwork for the back of an Arriva bus which will be seen travelling around Merseyside..

Finally, Clas Ohlson will be doing live gardening demonstrations and the area will be brought to life with two performing Preying Mantis on stilts and face painters.

Ian Ward, centre director for St Johns and Clayton Square, said: “We hoped that this campaign would help children to learn more about the environment and how to grow their own produce.”

“We know that the children have really enjoyed the process of raising their own vegetables and flowers from seeds and can’t wait to see the results of their hard work on Wednesday.”

Ged Gibbons, Chief Executive of City Central BID, which has chosen the environment as its key theme for 2011, said: “’The Big Go and Grow has been a huge success and has brilliantly linked lessons on the environment and business together. The school’s garden market on Wednesday is a great example of how the private and public sector can make a difference and how a city centre can be animated by new ideas.

“It should be a great experience for the pupils and will hopefully give them an appetite to learn more about where food comes from and how to sell products. Judging by the amazing feedback from the teachers and school children it’s something we should look at growing with our partners for next year.’’

Debra Mercer, marketing and communications manager for Arriva North West said: “All the schools involved in this project have been so enthusiastic, and the pupils have had great fun learning about the environment and how to be green.”

The full list of schools that have taken part in the Big Go and Grow is as follows:

Blessed Sacrament Infants, Fazakerley

Our Lady of Assumption, Belle Vale

Anfield Infant School, Anfield

Princes School, Liverpool

Anfield Juniors, Anfield

Barlow’s Primary School, Fazakerley

St Albert’s, Knowsley

St Sebastian’s, Fairfield

Broadgreen Primary, Old Swan

Bedford Drive Primary, Birkenhead

For more information visit www.juicefm.com/goandgrow or www.stjohns-shopping.co.uk