Lee Connelly, also known as the Skinny Jean Gardener, will be joining the expert panel of advisors for this year’s Jamie Oliver Good School Food Awards.

The announcement was made on the BBC’s The One Show last night, as the awards opened its entries for the eight awards up for grabs.

Podcaster Connelly will be the gardening and horticulture expert for these awards, which are going into their second year. He has become a prominent figure in horticulture and gardening education, establishing School Gardening Success. The initiative is dedicated to bringing horticulture into primary schools, providing teachers with online tutorials and how-to-guides to help them to teach their class how to grow their own plants. He appeared in parliament last year to encourage horticulture to be part of the school curriculum.

The winner of the Sustainability Stars award this year will receive the School Gardening Success programme.

“I’m thrilled to be part of the Jamie Oliver Good School Food Awards because it’s not just about recognising excellence; it’s about shaping a healthier, more sustainable future for our children. It’s an honour to contribute to a movement that promotes nutritious education in schools nationwide,” says Connelly.

The Jamie Oliver Good School Food Awards launched last year on the BBC’s The One Show to recognise those within the UK’s education system who are trying to make a difference to children’s health by providing nutritious meals.