Schools' growing passion leads to new awards

The competition has sprung from the rapid spread in recent years of a wide variety of school grounds gardens.

The annual Northumbria in Bloom contest featured a category for schools, but Eileen Burn, chairman of Northumbria in Bloom, said: "Our judges of the main competition were finding that when they visited schools as part of their judging tours the children would keep them there for ages, wanting to show them all they were doing."

So it was decided to set up a specific competition for schools and to extend it to cover the North East.

"As the judges always enjoyed these visits we decided to extend the length of time they could inspect each school, giving greater encouragement to young gardeners and their teachers," added Mrs Burn.

"Children are gaining practical gardening knowledge and are learning the importance of the environment and growing food, and learning to cook their produce."

Many schools link their gardens to classroom subjects such as maths, science, art and English.

"Some schools have lots of space and some don't but what is important is how they use that space," said Mrs Burn. "We are delighted to see how much school gardening contributes to the development of young pupils.

"We have met some inspirational teachers and volunteers and many wonderfully enthusiastic children. It's heartening to see how children are being encouraged from an early age to think about living in a sustainable way.

"These children are the next generation of gardeners, and it is important to give them as much practical experience and encouragement as possible."

The judges awarded marks for the maintenance and quality of the flowers, trees, fruit and vegetables the children grow, their understanding of plants and the environment and the use of horticulture in the general school curriculum.

Two outstanding schools were awarded trophies, with the Rod Leyburn Memorial Trophy for the best educational benefit going to Stocksfield Avenue Primary School in Fenham, Newcastle.

The Land of the Prince Bishops trophy went to Bankfields Primary School, Eston in Middlesbrough.

Gold medal winners were:

Bankfields Primary School, Eston;

Barndale House Special School, Alnwick;

Shilbottle First School, Shilbottle

Stobhillgate First School, Morpeth;

Hexham East First School, Hexham;

Tweedmouth West First School, Tweedmouth;

Clervaux Nursery School and Dunn Street Primary School, both Jarrow;

Stocksfield Avenue Primary School, Newcastle;

Yohden Primary School, Horden; Easington Community College, Easington;

Holley Park Primary School, Washington;

Corporation Road Community School, Longfield School, and Federation of Abbey Schools, all Darlington;

Lingfield Primary School, Marton;

Lockwood Primary School, Boosbeck, Cleveland;

Oakdene Primary, Billingham; Springwell School, Hartlepool.