Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is calling the nation to Dig In by rolling up its sleeves, picking up a trowel and starting to plant with a new Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Learning campaign encouraging people to grow their own veg, it was announced today (17 March 2009).

Whether they have a garden, an allotment, a window box or simply a yoghurt pot, the Dig In campaign will urge people to get digging wherever they can – offering a free seed starter pack to get growers started and a sprinkling of advice and information through a dedicated website, a national Dig In tour and support on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two's Gardeners' World, CBeebies and the Green Balloon Club.

"Quite simply we want to enthuse and help first-timers to grow their own grub anywhere," says Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Dig In project executive Nina Bell. "We'd love to see whole families coming together to get their hands dirty and start turning their fingers green.

"We want to show everyone that you don't need a huge garden to grow your own veg – a window sill, tiny terrace or your doorstep can be enough space to get growing. And, in these times of credit crunch, this is a great opportunity to try your hand at a fun activity which is both self-sustaining and affordable: so Dig In for the credit munch!

"But above all, it's a great way for whole families to spend time together, outside, as the Spring weather comes. Children love to get their hands grubby in the garden, so everyone can join the fun and, best of all, you get to eat the results!"

Launching on Gardeners' World and the Green Balloon Club in April, the Dig In campaign will get growers off the ground with free seed packs available from 10 April through bbc.co.uk/digin.

The starter packs will contain five varieties of plant suitable for a range of growing locations, soils and climates including Gardener's Delight tomatoes, Lolla Rossa or Red Salad Bowl lettuce, Boltardy beetroot, Harrier or Hunter butternut squash and Early Nantes carrots.

Throughout the growing season, the Dig In website and the Dig In tour will help growers to nurture their plants successfully.

The Dig In website will host a series of dedicated pages to each of the five vegetables with advice about sowing, growing and harvesting with regular updates to ensure support throughout the summer.

Gardeners' World will feature weekly updates from its Dig In garden with Toby Buckland offering advice and tips to growers. The Gardeners' World team will also be encouraging everyone to take part in the Dig In Grow Bag Challenge – using the seed starter packs and a grow bag to cultivate their own crops no matter how small the space.

The CBeebies team and the Green Balloon Club will be encouraging their younger viewers to get out and get planting too.

Later in the year, at harvest time, the campaign will switch from plot to cooking pot with tasty recipes for the produce available on the Dig In website and inspiration from top chefs including Nigel Slater.

But it's not just new growers that Dig In hopes to inspire. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Learning hopes that seasoned growers will step forward to "sow what they know", with an opportunity to supply tips on the Dig In website and share their knowledge at the Dig In regional tours.

"With the entire Gardeners' World team on hand to help there's never been a better time to grab a trowel and start growing your own. I'm throwing down the gauntlet to Joe and Alys in the Dig In Grow Bag Challenge – let's hope they're good losers!" said Toby Buckland.

The Dig In campaign is a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Learning initiative. Seed starter packs will be available on the website, bbc.co.uk/digin from Friday 10 April and locations for the Dig In tour will be confirmed in due course.

Notes to Editors

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Learning delivers campaigns that aim to inspire and empower individuals to take action – action that changes their lives, benefits communities and helps to transform society.

FW/BW2