THE green shoots will not begin to appear for at least a week, but when they do Swindon youngsters will be proud of what they learned at summer school.

More than 20 children went to Focus DIY at Greenbridge Retail Park on Wednesday to decorate plant pots that will soon be full of basil.

Coriander and mint leaves will also spring up in households throughout September, testament to the green fingers of the five to 11-year-olds.

Ruth Thomas from Greenbridge helped the children in painting their pots and preparing their herbal creations.

She said: "It was a great opportunity for the children to grow organic herbs and learn about the environment.

"They were each given a small plastic pot to decorate and when they finished they added the seeds they wanted.

"We had a younger group for five to eight-year-olds in the morning and the older ones followed in the afternoon.

"They worked hard and it looked like they had a wonderful time.

"It was also a help for parents to be able to leave their children here for free while they shopped."

The organic exercise marks the end of the Greenbridge EcoWarriors summer school for this year.

The annual programme is offered to keep children occupied and gives parents a break during the long summer holidays.

Throughout August they have been learning how to make organic smoothies and putting together recycling art challenges.

And at Cannons fitness centre last Wednesday instructor Marie Hogan took a group of five to eight-year-olds through a range of star jumps and shuttle runs.

Kay Rigg, the centre manager at Greenbridge, said: "The school gives kids the chance to learn a bit about the environment and have lots of fun, while giving mums a well deserved break."