The school is just one of five in Yorkshire that have created sustainable gardens which can act as outdoor learning areas.

Mr Martin said: "It's been fantastic because the kids came in at nine this morning and by lunchtime they had these new gardens."

Three different themed gardens were created from scratch last week by a group of pupils, school staff, James Martin and volunteers from Yorkshire Water who launched the initiative.

One is a drought-resistant garden which highlights the need for water conservation and demonstrates that there are plants that can survive on little water.

Another is a sensory garden which contains plants with strong smells and interesting textures while the final plot will be used as a vegetable and herb garden.

Saturday Kitchen and Ready Steady Cook chef Mr Martin got on board with the project to teach children where food comes from and how they can use the vegetables they grow.

He said: "My grandparents had an allotment and I used to go down and eat tomatoes from it. It's nice to see where food comes from, something that I think is dying out but projects like this help to bring that learning back."

The school is well versed in environmental issues after creating a green fingers group which has been running for four years.

Teacher Viv Stewart said: "The children learn about recycling, improving school grounds and are focused on saving water. They really seem to enjoy the first hand experience of things so this is an excellent opportunity for them."

Yorkshire Water launched the One Million Green Fingers initiative to create 350 sustainable school gardens by 2010.

Corporate affairs manager Richard Sears said: "Not only does it teach children about the environment and sustainabililty, it gives them a life real life skill in gardening which helps build things like patience."

Young pupils at Denaby Main were impressed with the new gardens that they helped build.

Olivia Rose said: "I've been planting things then looking at them and touching and smelling them. I really enjoyed it," while Thomas Heath said: "I like the plant that's called curly whirly because it spins all around."

James Martin believes that the initiative will also help the fight against childhood obesity by giving them more hands on experience of vegetables.

He said: "You can ask children about sprouts and cabbage and they will tell you that they don't like them but if they plant them and watch them grow then it might just change their minds."

But he joked: "I'm not sure they'll be able to grow bananas like some of them have told me they want to."