Mitre 10 is lending a helping hand to green-fingered kids across the country as they dig into the Tui School Garden Challenge.
Last year saw more than 600 pre-school, primary and intermediate schools across the country design, plan and grow a garden on their school grounds in the hopes of winning a top prize.
The competition opened last month, and runs until October 26, giving each school three months to really get their gardens growing. Gardens will then be judged on design, their innovation, and environmental elements such as recycling and composting.
All schools that register will receive a free resource pack, and the first 200 to enter also receive a starter pack, including growing media, seed raising mix, seeds, a gardening book, tools and seedlings.
Tui Products Ltd managing director Don Forgie says the gardens entered in last year’s competition were of an extremely high standard, and he expects competition this year will be even tougher.
After the competition closes, entries will be narrowed down to 10 to 15 finalists, who will then receive visits from the judges, with the top three and overall winner being announced on November 19.
The finalists and top three will all receive prize packs, including tools from Mitre 10 and gardening supplies from Tui, with the overall winner also receiving $1000 of Tui vouchers and $1000 of Mitre 10 vouchers.
