Haskins Garden Centre in Ferndown has partnered with West Moors Middle School to spread awareness of the benefits of houseplants at the school’s Eco Club.
On Wednesday January 24, Haskins’ in-house plant expert, Alasdair Urquhart, gave a presentation on houseplants at the school’s Eco Club. The presentation highlighted that adding houseplants to a room is a simple yet effective way to boost physical and mental wellbeing.
The Eco Club runs weekly, for a mix of all school years, to encourage children to learn more about gardening and eco-friendly initiatives. Children that attend the club are shown how to tend to the school gardens, learn how to plant bulbs and are encouraged to grow fruit or vegetables at home.
The garden centre also donated a range of houseplants to breathe life into West Moors Middle School’s library. The houseplants, which include a Boston Fern and a Peace Lily, will help to purify the air and eliminate any volatile organic compounds.
Alasdair Urquhart, in-house plant expert at Haskins, said: “It was a real pleasure to be invited to give a presentation to these children, who had bright, inquisitive minds. We hope the plants we donated will be enjoyed and improve their study environment.”
Lucy Smith, inclusion lead at West Moors Middle School, said: “The children love Eco Club and look forward to it each week. Having Haskins there to do a presentation on healthy houseplants really ignited their interest, leading to the most engaging question and answer session we’ve had in a while!”
Studies show that humans are generally happier and feel less stressed when surrounded by a plant. Schools can be full of airborne pollutants, with carpets, paint and even people harbouring toxins – especially in the winter months, when windows are closed to the cold air outside and central heating is ramped up indoors. As well as cleaning the air, plants have been proven to reduce anxiety and brighten moods.
Haskins Garden Centre is located in Ferndown, Dorset. Visit www.haskins.co.uk for more information.
