Potato Challenge for Schools

In January, Primary schools are invited to register with the Potato Council for their free potato growing kits and then come along to a Planting day in March, either at the showground or Langley Academy where they will enjoy the following:

• A talk on growing potatoes; from planting their seed potatoes in grow bags to taking them back to school to grow
• A potato salad making session with tastings
• The opportunity to learn about the importance of smell when tasting, with a blind potato crisp experiment 
• The chance to decorate their own potato cake.

In June, the schools are invited back to the Showground and bring their grow bags to harvest after making their own individual potato salad. Prizes are awarded to the heaviest yields.

The dates for 2020 are:

• Planting on March 9th at the showground and 10th March at Langley Academy in Slough 
• Harvesting on June 15th at the showground and 16th June at Langley Academy. 

Any school who would like to take part but has difficulty making both days are invited to plant at school and then come along to the harvesting day only. The winners of the challenge in 2019 were Robert Sandilands Primary and Chippenham Primary.

If you're interested in taking part, please email Jan - education@newburyshowground.co.uk or call 01635 247111.

“Thank you for organising a super day on Monday. The children were delighted to see how many potatoes they had grown and were very proud to take them home.” – Home Farm School

“Just to say thank you to you and the team for another fun harvesting day. Although we didn’t get an abundance of potatoes we cooked what we had and made another potato salad yesterday to share with the year 4 children. They loved making it, everyone enjoyed eating it and all came back for seconds! Thank you again” – Pippins Primary School