²ÝÁñÉçÇø

How planting your pants can raise understanding of soil health

A new citizen science campaign has been launched in the UK by The Country Trust to help develop a hands-on understanding and appreciation of soil.

clock • 2 min read
How planting your pants can raise understanding of soil health

A new citizen science campaign has been launched in the UK by The Country Trust to help develop a hands-on understanding andÌýappreciation of soil.

The Country Trust launched a new campaign called ‘Plant Your Pants’ on March 20, which seeks to raise awareness to the world of soil and enable everyone to discover why soil health is so vital.

Ìý

Plant Your PantsÌýis calling on children and adults up and down the country to bury their old cotton underwear (or any cotton) in school grounds, on farmland and at home in gardens, window boxes and plant pots. Eight weeks later, they will be asked to dig their pants up and, putting their scientific analysis skills to use, assess the results. The more holes in the pants, the healthier the soil, according to the charity.

Ìý

By encouraging children and adults to connect with soil, Plant Your Pants hopes to help build understanding that soil is vital and filled with life which needs to be protected.

Ìý

Plant Your Pants experiments will take place between March and June with results from experiments being uploaded on the Country TrustÂ’sÌýÌýonce complete.

Ìý

A full overview of the Plant Your Pants campaignÂ’s findings will be revealed by The Country Trust at the end of the summer term where participantsÌýwill be able to compare soil findings and pose questions to some of the UKÂ’s leading soil scientists.

Ìý

Â’Just dirtÂ’

Ìý

Coinciding with the launch of the Plant Your Pants campaign, new survey data from The Country Trust shows that nearly a third (27 per cent) of children between the ages of 7 and 10 years old have never, or hardly ever got their hands dirty in soil. Additionally, half (50 per cent) of children surveyed simply see soil as ‘just dirt’.

Ìý

Jill Attenborough CEO of The Country Trust says: “The Plant Your Pants campaign is a fantastic chance for farmers to engage with children on the importance of soil and why we need to look after it. It is quick, easy and free to sign up and you’ll not only be helping our future generations make that vital connection between the soil, our food and our health – you will be finding out more about the health of your own soils in the process.”

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

For more info

Please visit:

More on Arable

CropTec 2024: Insights and in-depth discussions to help arable farm businesses navigate new landscapes

CropTec 2024: Insights and in-depth discussions to help arable farm businesses navigate new landscapes

Heading to CropTec? Do not miss out on hearing from industry experts on how to get through a challenging time

clock 26 November 2024 • 1 min read
Wheat area to rise for harvest 2025

Wheat area to rise for harvest 2025

Alex Black
clock 23 November 2024 • 3 min read
How one of England's largest arable farms is aiming for net zero

How one of England's largest arable farms is aiming for net zero

With industry aiming to reach net zero by 2040, one of England’s largest arable farms is putting systems in place to achieve this.

clock 21 November 2024 • 6 min read