BEST SCHOOL GARDEN

THIS award goes to the school that has best involved children to create an inspirational garden. Between edible, ornamental, new or established school gardens, there were some fantastic entries for the judges to choose from.

OUR winner, Redwood Park Academy, scoops the £1,000 first prize. Over the past five years, its incredible garden has spread around the grounds of the school, in Cosham, Portsmouth, turning a disused space with an empty greenhouse into a thriving project encompassing growing food and attracting wildlife all year round.

Judges were impressed with the tireless efforts to encourage access to horticulture for young people. With a polytunnel to grow fruit and veg, a greenhouse, orchard, hand-built clay pizza oven, and stunning woodland walk, this is a deserving winner.

Wildlife is well supported by this garden because of the many hedges and trees they’ve added to the site.

Not only do they enjoy the wildlife at the school, but the neighbours get to savour it, too. The school has also made links internationally, trading plants with a primary school in Japan, via The Sakura Project.

Teacher Ed Bond says: “One student in particular has become so engaged in horticulture in the last 18 months, he’s become our ‘head gardener’. He’s developed such skill and confidence, he’s been awarded a place at agricultural college to study horticulture – a first for us at Redwood Park and something we’re very proud of.”

●●Second place goes to Craig Hepburn Memorial Garden in Linwood High School, Renfrewshire, which receives £500. In third place, taking home £250, is Chewton Common Playground in Dorset. Highly-recommended are Chaucer Primary School in Ilkeston, and Edible Rotherhithe in London. Each receive a Miracle-Gro® hamper.