Gardening needs to be taught daily in schools says Skinny Jean Gardener
By Oliver Rogers
February 7, 2024
This interview is being billed as the ‘Rumble in Runwell’ in this all-Essex affair as Ken Crowther met to talk to Lee Connelly, both gardeners are from the county made famous by TOWIE in the Only Way Is Essex.
Lee is known as the Skinny Jean Gardener and has appeared on BBC TV’s Blue Peter and hosted his own podcast. Lee recently appeared in the UK’s Sun newspaper gardening column promoting his passion and skills for gardening.
He has also published a book available now called: ‘How to get kids gardening with the Skinny Jean Gardener’.
And now he wants to make an impact with policy makers and make sure that gardening is firmly embedded in schools with many more children taking part in the activity.
This week is Children’s Mental Health Week (5 to 11 February) and Lee says, “Children’s Mental Health Week connects so well with that because gardening really does change the way children react with parents and teachers. it’s an important connection there that we can really push forwards.
“It is good to be outside. I think children learn more, and we all do learn more. But also being outside can make such a difference to how a child’s day goes within school or even at home. We [Ken and Lee] both know the mental health benefits as adults, but feeling that soil between your fingers and being there and watching something grow, it makes such a big difference. One thing I always say is that it teaches children patience,” he says.
Have you taken your children to see one of Lee’s shows? Tell us about the experience by posting a comment below >>>
“By connecting gardening with actual grow your own, so there is food involved, – then I think we can get more children involved in gardening,” says Lee.
He gets children to grow vegetables for a pizza, because he says “what child doesn’t love pizza?!” This connects the images of the vegetables with the cooked pizza.
Listen to Ken Crowther talking to Lee Connelly, the Skinny Jean Gardener.
Did you get a child growing vegetables recently? If so, what did you grow? Post a comment below >>>
Gardening from a young age can make memories and link parents and children in shared experiences like no other activity. It’s vital that this activity is included in children’s daily schedules says Lee.
Talking veg to power
Lee is very interested in making sure that learning about gardening is pushed up the political agenda and is part of the National Curriculum in schools across the country.
The gardener is looking at how he can influence politicians and says: “The biggest focus for me is trying to get at government and to make a difference in the curriculum, because I really see that as being a vital part of the future. Not for my daughter now, but for the generations ahead.
“But having gardening in the curriculum and having schools garden daily and getting children learning will get a healthy generation from that,” he says.
“But having gardening in the curriculum and having schools garden daily and getting children learning will get a healthy generation from that,” he says.
To buy a signed copy of ‘How to get kids gardening with the Skinny Jean Gardener’ click here.
Lee recently dug up part of his drive to remove block paving and produce a rainwater garden, watch the results online.
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