CHILDREN at Charminster pre-school got their hands dirty as parents and staff joined them in their new garden.

The adults accompanied 23 children from the pre-school, all aged five and under, as they spent time weeding, planting seeds, arranging seasonal bedding and also getting all the raised beds in their recently refurbished outdoor space ready for the season.

The afternoon was part of the national event organised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) called the ‘get your grown-ups growing’ scheme, which encourages all sorts of gardening.

Deputy play leader Claudia Carter said: “We are also using this event to give families the opportunity to explore our new outdoor space, which has taken four years to complete.”

The outdoor space was funded through Sure Start grants and donations from car boot sales.

Vouchers were donated by Groves Nurseries in Bridport for the pre-school children to buy and plant their seeds.

Department store and garden centre Gould’s donated vouchers for the greenhouse in the garden, which was put up by the parents.

Ms Carter said: “The children love gardening. It’s good to get them outside.”

In addition to the vegetable patches, where the children grow tomatoes, pumpkins and marrow, there is a sensory area, where herbs are planted, a quiet area, and a wildlife area.

Ms Carter said the four areas of the garden covered all areas of learning for the children.

Mr Andrew Cooke, whose five-year-old daughter Maisie attends the pre-school, described the afternoon as fantastic.

He grows his own fruit and vegetables at home with his daughter and thinks that the idea needs to be pushed more in schools.

Ms Carter added: “There is a great community spirit this afternoon.”