Young Islay gardeners top national contest

PORT Ellen Primary School on Islay will have an exhibit on display at this year’s Gardening Scotland event after winning a national competition.

They were one of the lucky winners in this year’s Keep Scotland Beautiful Design a One Planet Picnic Pocket Garden competition.

Eco- Schools from across Scotland were invited to enter the competition, asking pupils to design a colourful and exciting pallet-sized garden using plants that can be eaten and attract biodiversity. The children also had to reuse materials, which would otherwise have been thrown away.

Port Ellen was chosen as one of 18 winners out of over 80 entries received by Garden for Life Forum.

The pupils will now go on to plant and grow their winning designs at Gardening Scotland – the national outdoor living event which will take place at the Royal Highland Showground, Edinburgh, from 3rd to 5th June.

Councillor Rory Colville, Argyll and Bute’s Policy lead for Education, said: ‘This is an extremely popular competition, which attracted entries from more than 40 schools and nurseries across Scotland. The pupils of Port Ellen have done exceptionally well to be chosen as one of the winners and they should be very proud of all their hard work. To have their garden on display at a national event such as Gardening Life is a great privilege and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the pupils and staff who made this possible.’

Gardening Scotland’s Food and Environment Officer, Eve Keepax, said: ‘The Design a One Planet Picnic Pocket Garden Competition is a practical and fun way for young people to test their skills and utilise their knowledge in growing food sustainably. This expertise will be useful for life, work and leisure, as well as central to a low carbon future.’

Deborah Long, Chair of the Garden for Life Forum, added: ‘ We are delighted that so many schools got involved and have submitted such a wide range of innovative and thought-provoking designs. It is gratifying to see how future generations are getting to grips with environmental issues and how we can all help nature in our gardens and school grounds.’