Green-fingered folk are being urged to trade in their old and broken garden tools for new ones to help schoolchildren and community groups.

Syon Park and Osterley Garden Centres are asking gardeners to take part in their garden tool amnesty in aid of the Conservation Foundation’s Tools for Schools’ programme, Tools Shed.

Conservation Foundation director, David Shreeve said: “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to link up with Syon Park and Osterley for our 2009 Tools Shed initiative.

“Schools tell us how difficult it is to get the equipment they need for their gardens and a recycling project that helps equip the next generation of gardeners, reduces waste and provides practical skills for prisoners, seems the ideal solution.

“With more and more schools ‘growing their own’ there is great demand for garden tools and rarely any budget.”

Eesidents are being asked to bring in unwanted tools including trowels, spades, hand and garden forks, hoes, good old-fashioned garden rakes and lawn rakes from Monday, April 20, until Sunday, May 3.

Power tools will not be accepted.

In return the garden centres will hand out a 20 per cent off voucher to redeem against any new gardening tools from their Wilkinson Sword, Yeoman or Joseph Bentley ranges.

The foundation has been piloting a garden tool recycling project with Wandsworth Prison over the past year, where prisoners have been given the tools to repair, contributing to their training and rehabilitation.

All tools donated will be given to the prison and once revamped offered to primary schools and community groups for use in their gardens.

To find out more about the Tool Amnesty at Syon Park and Osterley Garden Centre visit wyevale.co.uk