CHILDREN across Swindon are being invited to show off their gardening skills and take part in a salad challenge.

The Harvester, in Drove Road, will be giving away 500 packets of lettuce seeds to children who visit from April 2 to encourage them to grow their own veg and learn more about healthy eating.

Youngsters will then have the opportunity to turn the seeds into a free family lunch, with the tastiest-looking lettuce winning a meal at their local restaurant.

Peter James, manager of the Grove Harvester, said: “Harvester is famous for its salad bar and in the past few years we have developed this further as we look to promote healthy eating to our young guests.

“Our young guest menu helps children on their way to five-a-day, automatically providing children with the Government’s recommended daily amounts.

“Each packet of seeds provides around 100 opportunities to grow the perfect lettuce, along with top tips on how to plant them. It takes four to six weeks to grow a lettuce, so by July we’re expecting to see plenty of fantastic pictures.”

Children who take part have until July 1 to upload images of their lettuce at www. harvester.co.uk/youngguests.