ATLAS Community Primary School in Manningham is taking part in a national competition to encourage pupils to learn more about food sustainability and the great outdoors.

The Big Grow competition - run by not-for-profit social enterprise, Grow It Yourself (GIY) - provides schools with everything they need to start growing their own vegetables, with 30 Year 2 pupils from Atlas taking part.

GIY will announce the winner - who will be given funding for a new or enhanced school garden - at the end of this month.

Lisa Simpson, Headteacher at Atlas, said: “We love the outdoors and the positive difference it makes to the well-being of our pupils. We’ve invested in a new allotment and outdoor area, so taking part in the Big Grow means we can give pupils extra motivation to get outdoors and explore.”

Michael Kelly, Founder and CEO at GIY, added: “It’s so important to teach food empathy and sustainability from a young age. Even the smallest of food growing experiences can change people’s mindset with regards to food, which is why we started the Big Grow competition ten years ago. We hope that Atlas Community Primary School uses the competition as motivation to get their pupils even more engaged with nature and the foods they eat.”