Around the world in eight gardens
Engaging and inspiring the gardeners of tomorrow
From the arid desert of the American southwest to the glamour of the iconic Hollywood sign, the US landscape has been recreated in a festival show garden in the heart of England.
But this creation is not the work of a celebrated designer or professional horticulturist. The ‘Stars and Stripes’ plot was conceived by students from a Worcestershire school as part of the annual School Garden Challenge at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival.
Scooping up the main prize of Best School Garden, Pershore College caught the judges’ eyes with their floriferous depiction of the American flag, Mickey Mouse ears made of horseshoes, and a walk of fame including such luminaries as Robert Plant, Jeff Goldbloom, and Vine Diesel.
Ian Wilson teaches horticulture for the supported learning department at Pershore College. He explains that the planning process began in October 2024, and the pupils went on to make everything themselves using recycled and organic materials.
“They just ran with it. They were great. They picked some wonderful colors, and a lot of the flowers were grown from seed. We made that decision quite early on and we were quite lucky that a lot of them have taken and we’ve got some good colors to choose from, not least reds, whites and blues.
“I’m just really proud of the students. They’ve had a hand in every single stage of it, and they’ve all worked very, very hard. We’re very happy.”
The US landscape has been recreated in a festival show garden in the heart of England.
The US landscape has been recreated in a festival show garden in the heart of England.
The US landscape has been recreated in a festival show garden in the heart of England.
The US landscape has been recreated in a festival show garden in the heart of England.
The US landscape has been recreated in a festival show garden in the heart of England.
The US landscape has been recreated in a festival show garden in the heart of England.
A helping hand
Syngenta Flowers has sponsored the School Garden Challenge for the past four years. The event is an integral part of the RHS Malvern Spring Festival, co-hosted by Three Counties, a 36-hectare showground in the Malvern Hills, and the Royal Horticultural Society, the UK’s premier gardening charity. Held over four days in early May, it is one of the UK’s first major horticultural shows of the year.
The School Garden Challenge is a great opportunity for Syngenta to engage with the local community and future gardeners. Photo credit: RHS Malvern Spring Festival
The School Garden Challenge is a great opportunity for Syngenta to engage with the local community and future gardeners. Photo credit: RHS Malvern Spring Festival
“We deliver young plants for the children to grow on and put into their show gardens,” says Neil Fishlock, Retail Key Account Manager at Syngenta Flowers. “It’s amazing to see what the kids do, right from the very beginning stages of their designs through to the implementation in Malvern. They have worked so hard, and it’s all about getting children involved, getting children there right from the beginning, understanding plants and having great fun growing them and making it work for them.”
Fishlock says that the School Garden Challenge is a great opportunity for Syngenta to engage with the local community and future gardeners.
Syngenta delivers young plants for the children to grow on and put into their show gardens, says Neil Fishlock, Retail Key Account Manager at Syngenta Flowers. Photo credit: RHS Malvern Spring Festival
Syngenta delivers young plants for the children to grow on and put into their show gardens, says Neil Fishlock, Retail Key Account Manager at Syngenta Flowers. Photo credit: RHS Malvern Spring Festival
“The overall feeling is of positivity. It’s about engagement, but it’s also about inclusivity because some of the children who do the gardens come from less privileged backgrounds and some have additional needs. And the show gardens give kids an opportunity to think about plants and gardening in a different way.”
Open to schoolchildren of all ages, either local or from further afield, this year’s challenge consisted of eight gardens. The organizers provide grants to help with expenses and offer advice from construction and horticultural specialists, as well as a range of workshops.
Gardens included ‘Paddington’s Peruvian Paradise’, ‘Heavenly Hawaii’, ‘Tranquil Japan’, and ‘Our flavor of Spain’.
Gardens included ‘Paddington’s Peruvian Paradise’, ‘Heavenly Hawaii’, ‘Tranquil Japan’, and ‘Our flavor of Spain’.
Head of Horticulture at Garden Organic, a UK organic growing charity, Chris Collins is a former gardener for Blue Peter, the longest-running children's TV show in the world, and was previously head gardener at London’s Westminster Abbey. He is involved with the schools from the start.
“The most enjoyable thing is the children’s engagement,” he says. “This is something they won’t forget. I know that because this is something I’ve been doing for a long time.
“It is quite stressful because it’s a big task to take on, but I just love to see their faces when they’re getting involved and seeing their work come to life.”
He continues: “I think that a life skill for a student is maths, it’s English, but it’s also how do you grow a carrot? How do you grow a cabbage? How do you relate to nature and trees and the world that we need to take part in? It’s absolutely fundamental that we take our children in that direction.”
This year’s theme was ‘Around the World’, with organizers encouraging the children and young people to bring a garden to life using their favorite country or city as inspiration. The participants put their imaginations to work, and the fruits of their labor were on display in Malvern.
Gardens included ‘Paddington’s Peruvian Paradise’, ‘Heavenly Hawaii’, ‘Tranquil Japan’, and ‘Our flavor of Spain’. There was also an ambitious Forest School space exploring environments in Costa Rica, Australia, and Norway.
Awards ranged from Best Wildlife Garden and the Bransford Webbs Award for Sustainability to Best Use of Recycling and Best Use of Color.
Lesley Watson is a judge for the RHS. She has been judging RHS Show Gardens for 25 years, including choosing the finest gardens at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, held in London each year.
“The school gardens are such a special part of the Malvern Festival. And what’s so exciting about these gardens is that it’s not only about the plants. The schools do so much construction, they do woodwork, they do artwork. The whole school gets involved and it’s just so rewarding.
“The America garden is amazing. We’ve got bridges, we’ve got the head of the Statue of Liberty made out of a tire, and there are some wonderful features. It’s very imaginative.
“You hope that this might just light a spark with them to think about horticulture as a career, because it is a wonderful career.”
Once the festival has ended, many pupils gather up their gardens and rebuild them back at their schools.
Jayne Unwin from Three Counties says that the School Garden Challenge is about giving children the opportunity to thrive in the outdoors, to learn a new skill, and to improve their communication.
“One thing I really love is watching them on Thursday, the opening day, and they’re all a bit hesitant to talk to visitors. By Sunday, they are pros.”
🎥 Hear more from special guests and judges at the School Garden Challenge
Once the festival has ended, many pupils gather up their gardens and rebuild them back at their schools.
Jayne Unwin from Three Counties says that the School Garden Challenge is about giving children the opportunity to thrive in the outdoors, to learn a new skill, and to improve their communication.
“One thing I really love is watching them on Thursday, the opening day, and they’re all a bit hesitant to talk to visitors. By Sunday, they are pros.”
🎥 Hear more from special guests and judges at the School Garden Challenge
