PUPILS of Horrabridge Primary School are getting their hands dirty as they plant and grow their own vegetables — part of a campaign to increase children's knowledge of where their food comes from.

Horrabridge Primary is one of 18 schools across Devon chosen from dozens of entries to be given a vegetable garden in the Dig Down South West campaign, launched by TV personality and gardener Charlie Dimmock.

The initiative aims to promote the value and benefits of children understanding the source of their food, nurturing their own produce and learning how to live a more sustainable life for the future.

The campaign followed a survey, commissioned by the rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual, that showed almost two thirds of school children across the region struggle to identify the origins of everyday food products they consume.

After registering online, Horrabridge Primary School was drawn from the entries and has received a large selection of baby vegetable plants, courtesy of Cornish Mutual.

Teacher at Horrabridge Primary School, Suzanne Hope, said: 'Were absolutely delighted to have been chosen.

'The children have been working really hard to improve the landscape of the school by weeding and planting, and we're really grateful to be given somewhere to actually grow things.

'We have a big gardening club, probably one of the biggest of the school's clubs, and they will be looking after the garden.

'The head teacher is keen for the children to get hands-on outdoor experience and he's a keen gardener, which is why we registered.'

Managing director of Cornish Mutual Alan Goddard said the Dig Down South West campaign has been a tremendous success: 'We were inundated with entries from schools and we will work with them to follow their progress from delivery, right through to harvesting their vegetables.

'It's so important for our children to understand where their food comes from and this is a fantastic way of supporting their learning.'

Charlie Dimmock said: 'Many children have parents who aren't gardeners themselves and we're hoping to fill that knowledge gap.

'I believe that gardening is a life skill and if every child knows how to grow plants and look after them, that would make a fabulous difference.

'A school garden enables children to learn in different ways and gives a practical element to learning — and it's fun.'