Green-fingered school pupils from across the region have packed wheelbarrows full of home-grown produce, representing a country of their choice, in the ‘Around the World in Barrows’ competition led by the Health for Life programme.

The finished wheelbarrows were on show at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live Special Edition, which aims to educate and excite children about gardening, wildlife and growing their own fruit and vegetables.

More than 170 barrows have been created and displayed since the competition was introduced in 2016. It is just one of the features of Health for Life, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The programme aims to promote healthier lifestyles by engaging people in growing food, physical activity, healthy eating and cookery. Working with local schools and communities across Birmingham, supported by Services for Education, The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and funded by Mondelēz International, Health for Life has reached more than 225,000 children and adults in the region over the decade.

This year’s hands-on wheelbarrow activity put local students’ gardening and geographic knowledge to the test, with each school growing a barrow’s worth of plants from countries including Bangladesh, Mexico and Pakistan. The finished barrows then took pride of place at BBC Gardeners’ World Live Special Edition last week.

Awards for best school was up for grabs, as well as a prize for the public’s favourite barrow. Bishop Milner Catholic College was crowned Best School, by a panel of 2 expert judges. Somerville’s barrow depicting Pakistan was revealed as the winner of the Public Choice award. 

Sally Grundy, Operations Leader from TCV, commented: “Over the past few years, we have worked closely with so many schools on the barrow project and it’s always exciting to see how enthusiastic and creative the pupils are in using their gardening knowledge and skills.”

Kelly Farrell, community affairs manager at Mondelēz International, said: “Our Health for Life programme is all about making sustainable changes that lead to healthier lifestyles, helping our local communities across Birmingham. The students and TCV worked hard preparing the barrows and it’s great to see them engage with the programme and food growing both at school and home – providing them with inspiration and lifelong skills.

“A big thank you to the schools, pupils and our partners TCV for creating the barrows and representing Health for Life at the show. Thanks also to BBC Gardeners World Live Special Edition for involving us in this wonderful event again.”

For more information about the work carried out by Health for Life in schools, please visit www.tcv.org.uk/midlands/health-for-life.