Learning To Grow Food Competition
An annual event for young children covering a wide menu of gardening activities
Learning to Grow Food
Who takes part?
For many years, we have run competitions for the local community. In the early days, we judged best local gardens, hanging baskets and containers and vegetable plots, and then went on to provide practical help for those unable to tend their garden for themselves. Finally, for several years, we ran a competition that involved young children covering a wide menu of gardening activities. This all came to a halt with the Covid epidemic!
A new-look competition was launched in 2022, based on the idea of helping young children in our local nurseries and primary schools to understand where their food comes from, how it’s grown and having a go at doing so themselves.
The project is in line with the learning outcomes defined within the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements, and for Key Stages 1 and 2 of the National Curriculum. The project is also enjoyed by the young people in our largest school for those with special educational needs and disabilities, particularly focusing on the science descriptors within their statutory framework.
What do they do?
In 2025, the competition explored the concept of varieties of the same vegetable, using potatoes as an example, posing the question ‘Are they all the same?
In 2024, the competition posed the question ‘Does pollination matter?’
In 2023, the focus was on ‘Does seed size matter?’
In 2022, the entrants grew a range of microgreens to learn how to grow and nurture seeds, including the best conditions needed for them to flourish and produce food to eat.
Click here to read the competition briefs and the judging expectations for each of these competitions.
Who supports the competition?
We are supported by Farlow Farm Nursery, a local business that provides equipment and gardening supplies such as pots and compost. We also bid for funding from other sources, especially for the prizes for winners and runners up, but also for the seeds that we give them to grow and nurture.
The judging is carried out by members of the committee, with prizes awarded in July.
Learning To Grow Food Competition Briefs and outcomes:
Learning to grow food competition 2025 – results and outcomes
This year, our competition was funded by a Community Grant of £300 from Midcounties Coop and compost was provided by Farlow Farm Nursery. Thank you to both. Learning to Grow food has made a huge impact on all the nurseries and schools that enter, which includes almost...
Learning to grow food competition brief 2025 – Wyre Forest School
Sponsored by Midcounties Coop and Farlow Farm Nursery One potato, two potato, three potato, four! There are three main objectives for this year’s competition: to develop the concept of seed varieties for a fruit or vegetable to develop the skills of fair comparison –...
Learning to grow food competition brief 2025 – Pre School and Primary
Sponsored by Midcounties Coop and Farlow Farm Nursery One potato, two potato, three potato, four! There are three main objectives for this year’s competition: to develop vocabulary and mathematical skills. to develop the concept of seed varieties for a fruit or...
Learning to grow food competition brief 2024
Competition for pre-school settings and primary schools Sponsored by Joyce Wakeman’s legacy Competition brief: Does pollination matter? The competition will focus on the role of pollinators and pollination in producing the fruit and vegetables that we grow and eat:...
Learning to grow food competition brief 2023
Competition for pre-school settings and schools Kindly sponsored by The Rotary Club of Ludlow Competition brief: Does seed size matter? There are two main aims for this year’s competition: to be able to explain whether the size of seeds affect their growing period and...
Learning to grow food competition brief 2022
Competition for pre-school settings and schools Kindly sponsored by BURWARTON & DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY CHARITABLE GRANT SCHEME Competition brief: The main aim of this year’s competition is to develop an understanding and practice of growing food in as...
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