Wheels are in motion for spud-tastic spring
PUPILS at Ings Primary are going head-to-head to grow prize-winning potatoes in stacks of car tyres.
When the school's headteacher put out an invitation for children to join in the spud-growing competition, he was not prepared for the response.
Now, 65 families have signed up to get green-fingered at home, as pupils learn more about growing their own fruit and vegetables.
The tyres have been donated by Savoy Tyres in east Hull and 75 children will be taking part in the challenge to win a family meal at the Lambwath Crown Carvery.
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Headteacher Jonathan Roe has been in the post since September and previously worked at St John of Beverley Roman Catholic Primary School.
He said: "At my old school I started a gardening club and we ended up winning awards in Yorkshire In Bloom for best in show. Everyone got involved.
"The ambition for Ings Primary is to follow that example and go in the same direction.
"We're also teaming up with Open Futures to become a growing school and the children will learn about planting their own fruit and vegetables and cooking healthy food."
Open Futures is a skills and enquiry- based scheme and was developed to help children discover and build on their practical skills, personal interests and values, which will contribute to their education.
Mr Roe said he was surprised when so many families jumped on the spud bandwagon and started making room in their back gardens.
"You never know what response you're going to get when you send out a letter. I was quite shocked," he said. "I promoted the competition in a school assembly and it was originally just for the gardening club, but we extended the invite.
"There's a lot of rivalry between classes, which is always good, and the new potatoes should take about seven to ten weeks, depending on the weather.
"Savoy Tyres has been brilliant and have given us everything we needed for the competition."
Before the Easter holiday, parents and children will be taking the tyres and potatoes home. By the end of June there should be a bumper harvest of new spuds in the Ings Road area.
The school will be inviting all the families who have taken part to bring their crop to school for a great "weigh-in" and prize-giving.
Pupil Toni Greaves, nine, said: "I can't wait to dig the spuds up to see how many I've got."
Martin Welford, nine, said: "I can't wait to learn more about gardening during the competition."
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