Category: News

News from David Domoney. David is a Chartered Horticulturalist with over 40 years of experience growing and caring for plants. David has also worked on UK national television for over 2 decades. As a garden designer, David has won over 30 RHS medals for his garden designs at leading UK gardening shows and events.

2014 Cultivation School runner-up – Skipton Parish School

School volunteer Kath Pickard was talking to a dinner lady one day about the derelict area at the back of the school. It had been left as a tip – full of rubble left over from nearby building work. Together they decided to take on the challenge of transforming it into a school garden.

It took them endless hours of work. They roped in teachers, parents and other school staff to help out. Eventually, they had cleared the site and built a raised bed for each class in the school.

They held a Class Crop Challenge and each group chose to grow a different crop. Kath told us “The results were amazing! All the children got stuck in, learned about gardening and tasted new vegetables at the end!”

This year, they decided to take the challenge one step further. Each class had to design their own plot around a theme and grow produce for a big harvest festival.

The children had complete freedom with their plot. The crops were then judged and trophies awarded to the winners.

The school also took on the extra challenge of marking the Grand Départ of the Tour de France. The race actually came through Skipton, in North Yorkshire.

They decided to transform the garden at the front of the school into a ‘Sea of Yellow,’ using yellow plants to echo the infamous yellow jersey.

Kath says “It’s great to see them getting involved and interested in the great outdoors. It’s amazing what can be achieved through gardening.”

Skipton Parish School was awarded a runner-up Cultivation School prize from the judges. The prize is £500 of National Garden Gift Vouchers.

The judges created the runner-up prize especially for the school to mark their incredible achievements. They praised Kath’s ability to see the potential in the site, and her initiative in turning it into a space for the whole school to enjoy.

The pupils also submitted a diary to the competition, which charted the garden’s progress and all the new things they had learned.

Congratulations to everyone at Skipton Parish School!

See the 2014 Regional Winners and the Special Category Winners.
October 13, 2014
2014 Multiplication Street Winners – Hoad Terrace

Twelve neighbours on a terraced road near the Lake District were at a loss as to what to do with their front gardens. Each house had one of twelve long, thin strips of land outside.

And then they had an idea – why not join the twelve gardens together? So they did.

They now have one large park and communal area, and share the space among all the residents. They share plants and produce, tools and gardening tips.

Several of the gardens have been completely joined to make one huge lawn, ideal for hosting community meals and parties. There is also a huge trampoline and space to play badminton.

Resident Kay Hebbourn says “We grow fruit and veg, and I have chickens that the neighbours’ children ‘help’ me with!”

“It’s a very low-maintenance garden, and it’s low-cost and loads of fun.”

Hoad Terrace is the winner of the Multiplication Street award, winning £500 of National Garden Gift Vouchers.

Judges thought the street was very inspiring and unusual, and loved that the residents used their gardens for the benefit of the whole street. They praised not just the number of houses involved, but the level of commitment and community spirit that shone through.

Kay added “We always says that if we won the lottery, we wouldn’t move. There are some things money can’t buy, and community is one of them!”

Congratulations to everyone on Hoad Terrace!

See the 2014 Regional Winners and Special Category Winners.
October 13, 2014
2014 Cultivation School winner – Ysgol Egsob Morgan

Junior school Ysgol Egsob Morgan in Denbighshire, Wales, has run an Eco Club for five years. Pupils grow a wide array of vegetables and have planted over 800 trees on the school site.

Teacher Richard Hatwood told us that all activities are led by the children and they are represented on the Eco Committee. They put forward their ideas to develop the school garden.

In recent years they have fundraised to have a new school pond developed, have a new allotment built and launch a chicken project.

The chicken project has been a huge success and the children are now offering their eggs to parents and guardians for a small donation. This helps pupils cover their costs and even purchase additional chickens.

Ysgol Egsob Morgan is a five star RHS school, and so has a commitment to coaching. The older children teach the younger ones how to tend the land, look after the animals and harvest the crops.

This year the children displayed some of the vegetables they had grown at Tatton Flower Show, and came in second place at the judging. Richard says they were inspired by the other displays and have started entering lots of competitions.

The students also love to take their gardening out into the community and have built a new wildlife garden alongside the river Elwy.

Richard says “Students don’t just turn up for Eco Club once a week for an hour – they come to school at 8am to look after their gardens, they use break times, lunchtimes and most evenings after school to garden too.”

“Developing our Eco Club has done wonders to encourage all children in learning about the outdoors.”

Ysgol Egsob Morgan has won the Cultivation School prize – £2000 of National Garden Gift Vouchers.

Judges were impressed by the variety of activities that the children do, and their enthusiasm about taking gardening out to the community. They liked the focus of sustainability in the Eco Club, and the presence of a pupil-led committee.

They also hailed it as an example of how school gardening can be used to teach children about the outdoors in general, rather than simply growing plants.

Judges also acknowledged Richard’s enthusiasm – he sent regular updates from Eco Club and engaged with the campaign online.

Congratulations to everyone at Ysgol Egsob Morgan!

See the 2014 Regional Winners and the Special Category Winners.
October 13, 2014