Three strawberry plants painstakingly grown by primary students were stolen from the Botanical Gardens over the weekend.

Ms Sarah Vallis, the gardens curator, said the plants were part of a new school gardens exhibit which was about to be judged for the Agricultural Exhibition, which runs from April 20 to 22.

Primary classes taking part in the new area of competition each planted a mixed garden, 10 feet long by 10 feet wide.

Since planting the garden in mid to late January, the students had visited "at least twice a week'' to pull weeds, get rid of caterpillars, and generally help the garden grow, Ms Vallis told The Royal Gazette .

She did not want to identify the school involved, because the garden still had to be judged, and she did not want to influence the judges. But she said both the teacher and students were "quite upset''.

Ms Vallis believed the plants -- which had no strawberries on them -- were stolen between Saturday and Monday morning. "Somebody knew exactly what it was and took it home,'' she said.

Nine schools took part in the new school gardens exhibit. "I feel very strongly about getting kids involved in the Botanical Gardens,'' Ms Vallis said.

"I really hope this doesn't discourage other schools from taking part.'' She hoped the plants would be returned.

STOLEN -- Ms Sarah Vallis, the curator of the Botanical Gardens, shows where the plants were stolen from.