BEST SCHOOL GARDEN



This is the second year of the Society's Best School Garden Award. Once again we were thrilled by the enthusiastic response this competition received and would like to thank all the children, staff, parents and helpers who took so much trouble to make us welcome at each of the schools we visited. The award has been a great opportunity to celebrate the gardening work done in our local community. Hopefully some of the young gardeners in our schools will one day be sitting around our committee table!

The range and quality of gardening in our local schools is impressive. Each school had at least one outstanding element to its garden.


GOLD AND WINNER OF THE SOCIETY SHIELD FOR 'BEST SCHOOL GARDEN'

CHRISTCHURCH JUNIOR SCHOOL

Christchurch impressed the judges with their two immaculate vegtable plots. The school has also developed flower borders at the front entrance. the children were all very knowledgeable about the entire growing process and enjoy eating the produce they have grown.



GOLD
UPLANDS JUNIOR SCHOOL

Uplands gave a very warm welcome to the judges and Mrs Lane's class gave a very professional tour of the school garden. Flowers, herbs and vegetables were all cultivated to good standard. Composting was very much in evidence as was a wormery and playground planters.


SILVER GILT
THE KING'S SCHOOL

The enthusiasm of the Year 7 Gardening Club at Kings really stole the hearts of the judges as did their fabulous 'secret garden'. The gardening club maintain an allotment style plot at the rear of the school. The plot includes fruit trees, shed, bird hide, greenhouse, vegetable beds and a very vigorous potato patch. The Year 7s fund their gardening by selling produce to members of staff.  An outstanding feature of this garden was the complete ownership of the garden by the pupils.

SILVER GILT
ST MICHAEL'S PRIMARY SCHOOL
Once again, a very strong entry by St Michael's. Flowers, fruit and vegetables all growing well. Bird identification charts and poems about the garden were also displayed to a high standard. Well done to the children who were such excellent hosts.


SILVER
ST EDMUND'S

The St Edmund's garden is positioned within the school block and as such presents a challenging space with regard to light. However, the space was extremely well planned with a pond and flower borders. The garden was maintained to an impressively high standard and contains much year round interest.