Boost thanks to brainy im-plants

SCHOOL gardens are a popular feature these days - giving students the opportunity to get their hands dirty, grow their own food and benefit from exercise and fresh air.

Hargrave Park Primary School in Archway, North London, has taken this idea one step further.

And with the help of a local Sunshine Garden Centre, the school has added green touches to their indoor spaces too.

The project was inspired by a visit from Professor Stephen Heppell, who promotes the idea that plants in school help with children’s cognitive performance. Prof Heppell suggested that introducing plants to indoor spaces works towards lowering the C02 emissions and increasing the oxygen in a room.

Of course, as an added bonus, the classrooms look great too.

Simon Haines, department manager at Sunshine, helped children select their plants for an impactful green wall.

He said: “The selection I put together included ferns, aloe vera, spider plants, dragon palm and rosemary.

They were chosen for specific reasons – firstly, they are all easy to look after, which is important when it is children that will be tending them.

“Secondly, all of these plants have the ability to supplement the oxygen in the classroom, in particular the ferns and spider plants which have been recommended by NASA as being particularly good at removing toxins from the air.”

This project is a great example of how a simple idea can spark a positive change.

Schools and community groups up and down the country are working towards greener spaces and Cultivation Street wants to hear about them.

The competition, sponsored by Calliope®, is still open to community gardens in the UK. For more information, visit cultivationstreet.com.