GREEN-fingered youngsters have been growing fruit and vegetables in their school allotment.

These Year 7 pupils are the latest at Chamberlayne College for the Arts in Southampton to get their hands dirty as part of the school’s Learn and Grow project.

It was set up by Solent Education Business Partnership to encourage youngsters across Southampton and Eastleigh to learn practical skills and gain a better understanding about where food comes from.

Students have been working on the allotment for the past two years and have grown a range of fruit, vegetables and herbs, including potatoes, onions, beans, garlic, strawberries and raspberries to use in the school kitchens.

Some of the schoolchildren have also used their gardening skills to grow food for the Weston Lighthouse Project, which supports needy families in the community.

When they’re not working on the allotment, the youngsters spend time in the classroom learning more about the produce, how to care for them and when to plant and harvest them.