Gardening Award

Pupils at a school in Somerset have achieved gardening glory as a result of their green-fingered expertise.

The pupils from Selwood Academy in Frome have been awarded the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ award by the Royal Horticultural Society and South West in Bloom.

Despite sometimes battling against the torrential rain, slugs and snails, their efforts won them the award for their conscientious labours.  This resulted in them growing succulent vegetables and luscious blooms in the vegetable patch at their school, which were judged as being highly successful.  They also planted up pots for the front of the school, weeded borders and passed on their expertise to other groups and schools.

The gardening group also used ideas from other cultures to create interesting designs and unusual schemes, such as their creation of an African garden.

The award was presented by the president of the Mendip in Bloom, Mrs Christine Potter, who said: “The pupils should be very proud of what they have achieved.”

Robin Parker of Gabriel Ash said: “More and more schools are realising the wonderful opportunities presented by engaging children in gardening, and as greenhouses can be used year round we believe our structures will be increasingly in demand for educational greenhouses.”

Author: Robert Smith