(Planting-out release, June)

Toddlers from … (name) nursery in … (town/village) are going potty about sunflowers!!

The green-fingered children will be out in force on … (date) to plant out their sunflower seedlings which they have grown for the benefit of children in Malawi.

The Sunflower Challenge, organised by the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) and promoted by Nursery World, raises money for WaterAid, the UK charity of the year. WaterAid helps the world’s poorest people gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.

Sunflower seeds were planted by the … (town/village) children … (three?) months ago. Since then, they have been busily collecting sponsorships for every centimetre the sunflower grows. The Sunflower Challenge activities are currently taking place all over the UK, as hundreds of day nurseries join in with the fundraising appeal to help WaterAid’s projects in Malawi.

Nursery manager, …. (name) said:

“The children have been very excited about growing their sunflowers, and are looking forward to watching them grow over the next few months. The amount of sponsorship money raised depends on how tall the children can get their sunflowers to grow…

“Millions of children around the world suffer greatly from a lack of clean drinking water and sanitation. Children, some as young as four, walk many miles to collect water every day, leaving little time for school and fun. But it can cost as little as £15 to provide a lasting supply of water and sanitation. We’re hoping that we can help WaterAid to raise £20,000 – enough to help over 1,300 people out of poverty.”

For further information on WaterAid go to www.wateraid.org

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- Ends -

Editors notes:

For more information about … (nursery) and the Sunflower Challenge, please contact … (teacher at school) on tel: ... (phone number).

For WaterAid information please contact Lisa Martin on 020 7793 4524 or email lisamartin@wateraid.org

The NDNA is a national childcare charity dedicated to the provision, support and promotion of high quality care and education for all children in the early years.

Nursery World is the leading weekly magazine for early years care and education professionals.

The sunflower seeds are of the Russian Giant variety and have been supplied by Thompson and Morgan. They can grow up to three metres tall, with a huge yellow flower, up to 30cm in diameter.