Teachers from 337 schools across the South East can now nominate for Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Young School Gardener of the Year 2013, a quest to find the most knowledgeable, enthusiastic and talented gardening pupil in the UK.
The competition is open to all schools on the RHS Campaign for School Gardening scheme, of which there are nearly 16,500 in the UK, and aimed at children up to the age of 16. RHS Campaign for School Gardening started in 2007 to support and encourage UK schools to use a garden as a teaching resource and has gone from strength to strength.
Last year, 11-year-old Lucas Hatch (pictured) from Suffolk won the title by impressing judges with his flair, enthusiasm and knowledge of gardening.
Sarah Cathcart, Head of Education and Learning at the RHS, said, “We launched this competition last year to raise the profile of gardening in schools and to celebrate gardening skills in young people. In part, because our research proves it helps a child’s wellbeing and development, but also because there’s a wealth of horticultural jobs out there.”
Teachers and other adults associated with the school can nominate a pupil by visiting www.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening by 18 May. A shortlist of finalists will then be asked to create videos. These will be watched by a panel of judges including broadcaster and ‘The Sun’s’ Gardening Editor, Peter Seabrook, and TV gardener, David Domoney.
The winner of RHS Young School Gardener of the Year 2013 will be announced on 12 July, 2013.
