The gardening team at Tudor Grange Academy Worcester wins ‘highly commended’ in RHS garden competition

“Paddington’s Peruvian Paradise” is what the students at TGAT Worcester called their horticultural endeavours at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival this year. The theme was ‘Around the World in the School Garden Challenge Way’, encouraging entrants to take inspiration from their chosen country or city. Led by Pupil Premium Lead, Jennie Sommerville, the jubilant children from TGAT Worcester were awarded ‘Highly Commended’ for their colourful, joyful creation.

In amongst the entries from schools across the region were depictions of Spain, Hawaii, America and Japan as well as Worcester and the planet. In explaining their garden design, the Worcester contingent summed it up beautifully saying: “Peru – a country of cultural and historical significance. Where the Rainbow Mountains meet the Amazon, and ancient grains, lush tropical plants and flowers flourish and is home to a marmalade-loving bear.”

Mrs Sommerville, and some of the keen gardeners from the schools ‘Eco Committee’: Rayhan, Grace and Lilly, were interviewed in their inspirational school garden by Tammy Gooding from the BBC just before the RHS event [link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0l48yxh] to find out more about the importance of gardening within the school environment. They enthusiastically talked about the sense of calm and stillness that gardening brings, with Mrs Sommerville saying “we can talk while gardening, it’s a safe space”. It’s an enrichment activity provided by the school that is considered and supportive, lending itself to well-being and positive mental health – as well as providing an opportunity to get hands dirty and feel a connection with the outdoors.

The school garden provides an immersive experience for all children and is especially beneficial to those who might be struggling or need additional help at school. Taking part in the RHS event is a natural extension of its success and reflects the confidence and commitment to creativity, nature and horticulture demonstrated by the school all year round.

Jennie Sommerville credited her colleague, Karen Dewe, alongside the hard work of the student gardening team. “I am extremely proud of everyone’s involvement with this project, including the media coverage we’ve had. We were all a little apprehensive and the children were worried about speaking but they were absolutely brilliant – and I will confess to a chocolate reward which worked wonders!”