YOUNGSTERS from three local schools have completed a programme to learn more about vegetables and where they come from.

Children from Prudhoe’s Highfield Middle School, Prudhoe Castle First School and Richard Coates Middle School in Ponteland were among 180 children from 10 schools to take part in the Roots and Shoots programme, developed by The Alnwick Garden Trust.

The project involved planting vegetables from seed after harvesting of the crops at the Alnwick Garden.

The charity programme, which is an active partnership project with the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, was developed to enable children to find out not just how to grow vegetables, but to learn the importance of healthy eating.

Head gardener Trevor Jones said: “We have worked with local schools and the children to teach them how to plant seeds properly, prepare a vegetable patch and sow radishes, beetroot, carrots and potatoes. ”

All schools received certificates and trophies for taking part.