Primary school children take over Leicester Market

Primary school children took over Leicester Market to sell produce as traders.

The pupils set up stalls two hours before regular market traders opened on Friday as part of the Young Marketeers food education programme.

The scheme, operated by the charity School Food Matters, gives children the opportunity to grow food with the help of expert gardeners, then sell it to the local community.

Local programme manager Lisa Didier said: "[The children] grow produce, they have lessons, they learn about healthy eating and then they grow produce and we come to the market to sell it, so there is an enterprise element as well."

Ms Didier added: "The money is going to the local food bank and goes to their schools.

"It's just such a lovely experience for them, where they're learning through fun."

Isla-Rose, a pupil at Braunstone Community Primary School, said she enjoyed last year's event so much that her teacher invited her to take part again this year.

She added: "We've been selling some cress, we've got some flowers out and we're selling tomatoes."

Other schools which took part included Stokes Wood Primary School, Fosse Mead Primary Academy, Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Eyres Monsell Primary School, Queensmead Primary Academy and Spinney Hill Primary School.

Jane Westmoreland, assistant head teacher at Spinney Hill Primary, said: "Although we've got limited grounds, it's something we really want to promote with our children, understanding growing and where their food is coming from."

"The pupils have actually seen it turn into the actual produce at the end, and I think them seeing that actual end point and them being able to try and taste things, I think has made them more open to eating a variety of food."

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