Press releases

RHS school members make the grade in national DfES competition

Three members of the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Schools Membership Scheme are runners-up in the Department of Education and Skills (DfES) Growing Schools competition.

Broadlands Primary School in Hereford, West Hill Primary School in Devon and Portway Junior School in Hampshire, all entered the Wallace and Gromit, Great Vegetable Challenge, run in collaboration with Aardman Animations Ltd. The competition asked schools, from all over the UK, to submit a plan of either how they would enhance an existing growing space, or create a new one.

Debbie Miller, a volunteer teaching parent, from West Hill Primary School in Devon, was motivated to enter the competition after attending an RHS Continuing Professional Development (CPD) day last October. She said, “The Royal Horticultural Society’s CPD day was so inspiring and such good fun that when I got back to school I decided to enter the competition. The CPD day made me realise the importance of putting the children’s ideas at the heart of school garden designs, which may have helped us do so well.”

Jacky Chave, Principal Education Officer for the RHS, said “The competition was huge - over 700 schools entered - so I’m delighted that RHS school members did so well.” Jacky explained, “It shows how useful the resources, information and advice is that schools receive as part of their RHS schools’ membership.”

Leading gardening charity the RHS sent details of the national competition to its 3,900 school members in September 2005. The RHS has been running this highly successful initiative for eight years and for further details on how schools can join this free scheme visit www.rhs.org.uk/education

The RHS CDP programme advises schools how they can use the ‘outdoor classroom’ to deliver the National Curriculum, as well as increasing their skills and interest in horticulture. Each CPD day includes hands-on sessions of practical activities as well as a tour of the garden venue, offering ideas for your own school garden.

The Rt Hon Jacqui Smith, Minister of State for Schools, presented the prizes to the wining schools, including £500 towards school grounds development and gardening equipment to the value of £500, at Royal Botanic Garden, Kew on March 8 2006. Judges of the competition included Matt James (Channel 4’s City Gardener).

Notes to Editors

For more information contact Leah Colthorpe in the RHS Press Office on 020 7821 3046 or e-mail leahcolthorpe@rhs.org.uk

An image of West Hill Primary school receiving their award is available from the RHS Press Office (contact details above).

The RHS Schools Membership Scheme, which has over 3,900 registered members, is offered free of charge. Schools that join the scheme are sent a newsletter with complimentary seeds each term and a copy of the RHS magazine The Garden, each month. The newsletter offers ideas on what to do in your school garden and how to bring practical gardening and plant science to life for children. Registered schools are also able to take advantage of the schools members ‘Seed Distribution Scheme’, free horticultural advice from the RHS, and a discount on Continuing Professional Development days.

There are RHS Education Officers at each of the four RHS Gardens Rosemoor in Devon, Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire, Wisley in Surrey and Hyde Hall in Essex who deliver a programme of school visits and Continuing Professional Development Days.

For further information about the RHS Education programmes, activities and CPD days please visit www.rhs.org.uk/education or email: schools@rhs.org.uk

www.rhs.org.uk/pressoffice

The RHS is the UK’s leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening. RHS work includes providing expert advice and information, advancing horticulture, training the next generation of gardeners, helping school children learn about plants, and conducting research into plants, pests and environmental issues affecting gardeners.

An interest in gardening is all you need to enjoy being a member of the RHS. For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk or call 0845 130 4646.

Founded in 1804, the Royal Horticultural Society is Britain's largest gardening charity and is committed to being the leading organisation demonstrating excellence in horticulture and promoting gardening. Renowned for its outstanding gardens and inspirational flower shows, the RHS is a key source of advice and information for all gardeners. It encourages gardening through its publications, trials, lectures, education programmes and scientific research and is home to the Lindley Library, which contains the most comprehensive collection of horticultural books in the world.

Membership of the Royal Horticultural Society offers many exclusive benefits including a monthly copy of The Garden magazine; free entrance to RHS Gardens Wisley in Surrey, Rosemoor in Devon, Hyde Hall in Essex and Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire; free access to a further 88 beautiful gardens across Britain and 20 gardens in Belgium and France; access to seeds collected at RHS gardens; free gardening advice and privileged tickets to 18 RHS flower shows, including the Chelsea Flower Show, the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park.

For further enquiries about membership of the RHS contact: Membership Department, Royal Horticultural Society, PO Box 313, London SW1P 2PE; 0845 130 4646 Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5pm or via the RHS website

For more information e-mail the Press Office or visit the online Press Office