[nipper31]

There are also government initiatives for getting a school garden going, try these links for further info:

growing.schools@dfes.gsi.gov.uk

www.teachernet.gov.uk/growingschools

 

[rachelr]

the abbey national and the coop used to run 'gift aids' for good causes. Get the secretary at the school to send out a letter to any of the local businesses. We used to regularly get our Christmas trees from b and q every year when i was school sec.

[nuttytart]

Thank you very much for your help, As i said there's no such thing as PTA or anything like this as a lot of the kids are in care and have serious issues and are passed from one foster home to another, but i'll pass on the info and see what they can do. Thank you very very much for your help

Nuttytart

[nipper31]

Also, don't forget to have a look at the Swap Shop and Recycle forum on here, these good people have spares that may be available to you for the price of a couple of stamps... 

[fisher]

I run our school garden and sympathise!
We have worked towards green flag status across the school and now have a little pot of £ to use for garden and other green projects.  When we started we had help from parents and staff to do some ground work.. led by a teacher with good practical skills and environmental knowledge.
 If we want to get a bigger task done we might spend a Saturday morning and get parents/children/staff to come along .. provide refreshments; take photos; reward the helpers!!
You may be able to get freebies or cheaper deals on equipment/supplies by asking-  local supermarket maybe?? local charities?? We got some free soil improver from the local firm which processes garden waste. We've also benefited from Supermarket voucher schemes (eg Morrisons)
Write a piece for local paper and attach quality photo of your plans (and say thank you to helpers/local firms etc). Publicity can only help!
See 'Frugal Living' on here for cheap deals too.
Seeds are cheap considering what youll grow though!! You should have a little money from sales ready for next year...
I find the 'selling the produce' the tricky bit though. We're in an area which is rather conservative in its tastes..  So the choice of what to grow is important from that point of view, as well as from the school timetable and holidays.
Its all time  consuming stuff but great sense of achievement and brilliant learning/nurture opportunities..

[Dreamer@45]

I was in my local garden centre during last autumn and saw a chap replacing all the old seed packets with new ones. So I asked him what he does with all the old seed packets and he said they are given away to charities. might be worth you contacting the seed companies.

[bigben]

Try http://www.potatoesforschools.org.uk/ for free spuds for the kids to grow
Morrisons sell their flower pots at about 8 for a pound. I bet they would let you have some for nothing if you wrote, or got the kids to write a nice letter.
Scaffold suppliers need to scrap their batons after a few years- contact them and ask if they can let you have some if you could collect.
http://www.growingschools.org.uk/ is another site that you might find helpful.
 If you have a school magazine or newsletter then put in an article asking for help and see what come in.
 

[kari]

Where abouts in Northants is it? I have been given a big bag of old seeds & a load of new shallots & onion sets & seed potatos.

I have been wondering what to do with them all afternoon as there must be enough to plant several allotments!  Once I have sorted what I want out of them, they are welcome to the rest. but I dont have a car at the moment, so I would need someone to come & collect.

[slider]

i not sure who you,d need to see wether local council or your local m p could help for a grant.the local school to me has a plot on our site and the,ve just got a grant for a poly tunnel and tools.

[richyrich7]

Some seeds on the way to you NT.   

[nuttytart]

Thankyou.
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