Pupils bag potato prize

Pupils at Bishop Alexander Primary School, Newark, won a potato-growing competition organised as part of the town’s entry in the East Midlands In Bloom competition.

The seven to nine-year-olds planted two potatoes in two tubs in the playground. The crop was 20 potatoes weighing 1.6lbs.

The school was awarded buddleia, teazle and lavender plants, which will be added to the school’s butterfly and bee garden.

Eight other schools entered. They each received a lavender plant.

The competition was run by the chairman of Newark Allotment and Gardening Society, Mrs Gillie Wilkinson (62) of Lincoln Road, Newark.

Mrs Wilkinson, a retired horticulturist, thought it was important that children understood where their food came from, and the benefits or growing their own organic vegetables.

Zoe Wines (8) said: “Digging up the potatoes was the best part.”

The children said the secret to their success was giving the plants plenty of water and feeding them with chicken manure pellets. They also checked the plants daily for insects.

Mrs Wilkinson said she hoped to restart potato-growing competitions that were once held regularly in Newark.

The prizes and materials for the schools’ competition were donated by the chairman of Newark Civic Trust, Mr George Wilkinson, who is leading Newark’s committee for the town’s involvement in East Midlands In Bloom.

The competition requires towns to show a range of schemes that involve the local community and improve the environment of the town.

Other events have included a plant swap day, a shop window display in St Mark’s Place and provision of baskets and troughs. An open gardens day will be held on July 5. The judges will visit the town the day after.