Green fingered youngstersgrowing sunflowers for national charity challenge

Peter Burks, Horticultural Advisor for online garden centre www.potterandrest.co.uk, has put together some top tips on growing the cheery plant for any youngsters from the town participating in bibic’s competition.

Carla Bloomfield, Fundraising Team Member at bibic, which helps children and young people with conditions affecting their social, communication and learning abilities, explained: “The aim of the competition is for children aged up to 16-years-old to grow the sunflower with the fattest face.

“We have joined forces with www.potterandrest.co.uk and to help youngsters taking part get the best results we asked Peter, who has a wealth of knowledge on all aspects of gardening, for some top tips.

“People can see Peter’s tips at http://bit.ly/1n1QZ35.”

www.potterandrest.co.uk has also donated the seeds any children taking part will use.

The competition forms part of bibic’s Smile Campaign, which aims to raise awareness of its Sponsor a UK Child initiative.

Carla continued: “It also isn’t too late for people or schools in Horsham to get involved and we would love it if as many children as possible across the UK took part in the competition.

“We know that many schools have gardening clubs and it would be great if they could participate too.

“The competition is also a fundraiser for us through a £1 donation, which people will be asked to make when they order their seeds.

“Parents, guardians or teachers are invited to order a packet of seeds, while stocks last, for £1 from http://bit.ly/1gyVsGO. An entry form can also be downloaded from http://bit.ly/1nIzzKp.”

bibic helps children and young people aged from six months to 18-years-old with conditions affecting their social, communication and learning abilities to achieve their potential for a happier and more fulfilled life.

These include developmental conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome and brain injury.

bibic’s Sponsor a UK Child initiative gives people the opportunity to change a child’s life forever. The charity currently has two children, Zoe and Ray, who can be sponsored.

For a donation of £5 each month, sponsors receive pictures of their chosen child together with their story, an update on their progress every six months, drawings or letters and a certificate and thank you drawing via the charity. There is no direct contact between the child and their families and the sponsor.

Carla added: “In September, children will be asked to measure their sunflower across the middle of its ‘face’, excluding petals.

“We would then like them to take a photo of their sunflower and complete the entry form.

“All entries must be submitted via email before midnight on September 30, 2014 to [email protected] with the entry form and a photo of the sunflower attached to the email.”

There are two titles to be won– Regional Winner and National Winner. The five regional winners will each receive a £10 Potter & Rest voucher and a certificate.

The National Winner will be the entrant whose sunflower ‘face’ was recorded as the largest and they will receive a certificate and a £50 Potter & Rest voucher. The overall winner’s school will also be presented with a £50 Potter & Rest voucher.

www.potterandrest.co.uk aims to be the largest ‘true’ garden centre online with free expert advice available to gardeners via telephone and social media backed by a five-year plant guarantee.

The e-garden centre hopes to appeal to all levels of gardeners from complete novices to keen amateurs and on to expert gardeners.

bibic is a registered charity that receives no government funding and relies on support and donations to provide the life-changing help needed by many children and their families.

The charity has a national assessment centre in Somerset. Its therapists work closely with families nationwide to create a therapy programme, which provides them with the skills and strategies to support their child or children.

If you would like to support bibic’s work and wish to make a £5 donation to the charity, please text KIDS02 £5 to 70070 or for a £10 donation text KIDS02 £10 to 70070.

To find out more about bibic’s Sponsor a UK Child initiative, please visit www.bibic.org.uk/support_us/sponsor_a_child.