RHS School Gardening Awards
Level 2

Level 2 focuses on supporting pupil wellbeing and developing new gardening skills. It also provides an opportunity to show how pupil voice is a fundamental part of growing and caring for plants in your school

How do we achieve Level 2?

To achieve Level 2, you need to demonstrate the following:

We all contribute to our gardening plans
We are learning new gardening skills
We use gardening to support our wellbeing

How do we apply?

When your school is ready to apply for Level 2, please submit up to 100 words for each of the above criteria. Please show how at least 10 pupils have been involved when you submit your evidence. You are welcome to include quotes from children and young people as part of your submission.

Submit evidence for your school

Rewards

Once you have achieved Level 2 of the RHS School Gardening Awards, you will receive the following rewards to promote and celebrate your achievement:

A certificate
A digital logo
State-funded schools will also receive a £50 National Garden Gift Card

School Gardening Award submissions are assessed twice a month, and rewards will arrive within 15 working days of successful assessment. If we need any further information to help assess the level, we will be in touch by email.

Information and resources to support your submission:

We all contribute to our gardening plans

How are you gathering ideas from children, young people and staff? How are these feeding into your developing plans? This might include:

Talking about gardening plans in an assembly and holding a hands-up vote
Running a pupil survey with one or more classes
Talking to the school council or eco group
Discussing choices with children, young people and staff while they are gardening

Having a ‘suggestions box’ at school for pupils and staff to post their ideas
Having a chalkboard in your growing area for pupils to add their ideas

We are learning new gardening skills

Please provide details about the new gardening skills children and young people are learning. This might include:

Sowing different types of seed
Thinning seedlings to ensure they have enough space to grow well
Caring for seedlings until they are big enough to plant out
Knowing when to water plants and how to water them

Staking plants to protect them against wind and heavy rain
Taking plant cuttings or harvesting seeds for future planting

We are using gardening to support our wellbeing

This might include:

Linking gardening to the Five Steps to Mental Wellbeing
Using gardening to improve physical health and fitness
Using gardening as a way of spending time outside and increasing a connection to nature

Using gardening inside or outside for staff and pupil relaxation and restoration
Using gardening to connect with each other

Ready to progress?

Find out how you can achieve the next level.

Level 3

Get involved

The RHS is the UK’s gardening charity, helping people and plants to grow - nurturing a healthier, happier world, one person and one plant at a time.

RHS School Gardening AwardsLevel 2