CELEBRITY gardeners are encouraging primary school children to grow their own food.

Schools across London have until June 18 to enter the Capital Growth schools competition.

There are three categories which include Bugs and Slugs, a garden focused on biodiversity, Collect and Create, which encourages the re-use of waste items and Climate Cool, a garden designed to cope with a changing climate.

Gardeners Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Chris Collins and Sarah Raven will visit the winning schools from each category to give them gardening tips along with a cash prize of £500, plants and a wormery.

Two primary schools in Greenwich and four primary schools in Lewisham have already signed up.

Capital Growth aims to create 2,012 growing spaces in London by 2012.

For more information or to register, visit capitalgrowth.org/schools