Gardening expert John Cavill and the Simply Gardening team have transformed an unused garden at The Henderson Avenue Children's Centre into an interactive and innovative learning space.

BLOOMING marvellous gardens in North Lincolnshire are helping youngsters to blossom in the classroom.

Gardening is a fun, exciting and educational way to keep youngsters occupied during the summer holidays.

The new garden at Henderson Avenue Children's Centre, revitalised by John Cavill and the Simply Gardening team.

The benefits of encouraging youngsters to get back to nature can pay dividends in the classroom.

Gardening expert John Cavill and the Simply Gardening team have transformed an unused garden at The Henderson Avenue Children's Centre into an interactive and innovative learning space.

"The garden was an unused part of the centre and was a blank canvas for us.

"We put lots of thought into the garden and the whole area is now a natural play, learning and discovery garden.

"We are pushing the boundary's further than ever before with textured interaction footpaths and much more which is beneficial for youngsters learning."

Andy Walton, integrated service manager for Scunthorpe North Children's Centre said: "The garden is another exciting collaboration between extended school services, SureStart, children's centres and schools.

"It is a ecological and sustainable learning environment for the local community."

Sue Hoy, head gardener at Normanby Hall, said the summer holidays are the ideal time to get children interested in gardening.

"Gardening includes every single part of the national curriculum," she said.

"Children used numeracy skills when sowing seeds, history when learning about how plants have developed over the years, geography when finding out where the plants come from and obviously science when learning about the plants themselves and the wildlife they attract.

"Gardening is really exciting and satisfying for youngsters especially when they can grow and eat their own vegetables.

"Children classically claim not to like fruit or vegetables, but when they have grown the produce themselves it makes them tempted to try it.

"Things like lettuce and runner beans are really easy and quick for youngsters to grow and you can introduce unusual things such as black and white carrots to make it more interesting."