Trafalgar Infant School pupils were given advice on growing their own fruit and vegetables by a Blue Peter gardener at the opening of their new allotment.

The Twickenham school won the allotment along with a shed and tools from firm Mears after entering a film competition open to all Richmond’s schools.

School Food Matters, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving school dinners, organised the contest .

The school’s winning film explained where potatoes come from and how they are used in food.

The allotment was built by staff at the Meadway school, and officially opened by Blue Peter gardener, Chris Collins, and Richmond’s mayor Councillor Helen Lee-Parson last Friday.

Headteacher Lynne Thompson said: “We are thrilled to win. The children, along with their teacher, Nicky Jackson, thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and worked very hard. They will certainly enjoy the allotment and it will provide a source of learning for all the children for many years to come.”

Mr Collins said: “The main reason Trafalgar won the competition was that the project was driven by the pupils, it looked like they had had a lot to do with making the video, and we could see how responsible they are for it. I would love to come back and see how they are getting on in a few months’ time.

“It’s important that outside becomes a classroom as well. The thing with gardening is that it is addictive, if schools sew the seeds in the childrens’ minds while they’re young. They will be interested for life.”