CHILDREN are being encouraged to do more than just eat local, they are being helped to grow local too.

Pupils from the Selby area are taking part in a scheme to help children understand just where their food comes from.

The programme is run by the Stocksbridge Technology Centre, at Cawood, near Selby, as part of its agricultural research.

Stocksbridge Technology Centre project leader Julian Davies said: "We want to get children to realise just where their food comes from, to really develop their understanding. We want to educate them why fresh is best.

"If the children grow their own vegetables and take care of their own little patch they really start to see some progress."

The children are taking part in a continuing programme throughout the summer. Children from several schools have been paying their second visit to the centre.

After initially planting seeds and pricking out tiny plants on their first visit, this time they transferred their crops to their own patches, planting tomatoes, courgettes, cabbages and salad plants.

They will revisit the centre many times through the summer to tend to their plants which, when fully grown, will be harvested by the children and taken back to school.

Updated: 10:38 Thursday, May 29, 2003