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RHS launches nationwide competition for schools to create mini ‘No Adults Allowed’ garden

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is delighted to launch a nationwide competition aimed at primary schools across the UK, in celebration of the ‘RHS No Adults Allowed Garden’ at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year.

The project – which promotes creativity and hands-on gardening experiences - invites school pupils to unleash their imagination and cultivate their very own 'No Adults Allowed Garden’ at their own schools.

This year children are taking over the RHS garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with pupils from Sulivan Primary School, London, working alongside garden designer Harry Holding to create the ‘RHS No Adults Allowed Garden’, in which children can learn, play and explore.

To celebrate the garden, the RHS Campaign for School Gardening is asking children across the country to design their own mini ‘No Adults Allowed Gardens’ and plant them up in a recycled container. Schools can then enter a photograph of a garden (one entry per school) to be in with the chance of winning £1000 to bring their ideas to life within the school grounds.

The competition is open to any primary school registered to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, which currently supports over 17,000 schools across the UK, reaching a total of 1.7 million school children annually. The Campaign was set up to give children and young people opportunities to grow and connect with nature and learn how to care for plants and the planet.

Gardening and connecting with nature has a wide range of benefits for young people, from getting fresh air and exercise, to learning practical skills and improving overall wellbeing. This competition offers children a chance to learn about growing plants and collaborate with peers to create a completely unique green space.

Alana Cama, RHS Senior Learning Manager, said: “We are so excited to launch the ‘No Adults Allowed Garden’ competition in a year that young people are set to take centre stage at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Gardening brings so many benefits to us all, not least a chance to learn new skills and express creativity. We hope that as many schools as possible will get involved in the project and can’t wait to see the designs come in from far and wide.”

Entries can be submitted until the competition closes at 5pm on 14 June and winners will be announced in the week commencing Monday 24 June. A panel of judges will select 25 winners who will each receive £1,000 in National Gardening Gift Vouchers.

For more information on the competition and advice about school gardening visit the RHS Campaign for School Gardening website: https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk

ENDS

Notes to editors

Notes to Editors:

For additional information please contact Gina Miller in the RHS press office: [email protected]

About the RHS Campaign for School Gardening

The RHS School Gardeners of the Year competition is part of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. Children learn how to care for plants and our planet through gardening while connecting with nature and boosting their wellbeing.

Through gardening they learn about healthy fruit and vegetables, wildlife and important life skills such as teamwork, social skills and co-operation. Using an outdoor classroom where children can learn in a fun, engaging way provides huge benefits. Information, lesson plans and advice for schools is provided online and is backed up by support from the RHS Education team and RHS Campaign for School Gardening Regional Advisors.

Schools and youth organisations can sign up to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening online: https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk

About the RHS

Since our formation in 1804, the RHS has grown into the UK’s leading gardening charity, touching the lives of millions of people. Perhaps the secret to our longevity is that we’ve never stood still. In the last decade alone we’ve taken on the largest hands-on project the RHS has ever tackled by opening RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford, Greater Manchester, and invested in the science that underpins all our work by building RHS Hilltop – The Home of Gardening Science. 

We have committed to being net positive for nature and people by 2030. We are also committed to being truly inclusive and to reflect all the communities of the UK.  

Across our five RHS gardens we welcome more than three million visitors each year to enjoy over 34,000 different cultivated plants. Events such as the world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, other national shows, our schools and community work, and partnerships such as Britain in Bloom, all spread the shared joy of gardening to wide-reaching audiences.

Throughout it all we’ve held true to our charitable core – to encourage and improve the science, art and practice of horticulture –to share the love of gardening and the positive benefits it brings. For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk.  

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.