IT IS wonderful to see a council encouraging children to get their fingers dirty and ‘to inspire them to get a love of gardening’, Diane Parker’s words (Echo May 21) by taking part in ‘Bournemouth in Bloom’ schools competition.
It is such a pity that Poole children have not got the same opportunity as their council took the short sighted decision to discontinue ‘Poole in Bloom’ which included school competitions a couple of years ago.
Surely they couldn’t fail to see children’s excitement in receiving their school’s winning diploma each year at the Upton House prize-giving ceremony – it meant that for months up to the ceremony they had helped to create a prize winning garden.
Don’t they realise the wonder in a young child’s face when they see a beautiful marigold grow from a seed, an oak tree sprout from an acorn or a daffodil grow from a bulb?
Gardening to them will be exciting, informative, educational and will make them appreciate nature in all its forms.
Bring it back even if it is only for schools with volunteers and from the education budget.
KEN ADAMS, Glen Road, Poole
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