Open to all schools in Worcester with school garden involvement.
Pershore College is proud to sponsor the Schools’ Gardening Competition
| Class | Description |
|---|---|
| Class 1401 | The Pershore College Worcester Schools Garden Competition - Open to all schools in Worcester with school garden involvement. To produce a scrapbook diary of your gardening year covering cultivation, environmental and educational aspects of the Garden. Shortlisted entries will be also visited by a judge. |
Section rules
Open to all schools in Worcester with your entry being measured this year against a standardised set of Criteria.
This approach has been chosen to provide you with better guidance as to what is being looked for in your Entry, as well as enabling a more subjective approach to Judging the entries from a wide variety of schools.
We will again be looking at your school’s achievements for your Allotment/Garden, the level of involvement of your pupils. The Cultivation, Environmental and Educational aspects of the garden are all important, as is your Pupils relationship with it, and their Horticultural & Bio-diversity learning experiences.
Your Entry will comprise just three elements against which it will be assessed:-
- An application form
- Submission by Tuesday 30th April 2024
- A visit by the judges to the school garden or allotment.
- In early June – Dates to be agreed.
- An illustrated Scrapbook Journal telling the story of the Allotment/Garden Plot(s) during the year.
- Submission by Friday 5th July 2024
- An A3 photographic display for Show Day including your School’s Name and Logo as a header
- On Friday 5th July 2024
One of the principal items will be your own school’s Allotment/Garden Illustrated Scrapbook Journal showing how your Objectives have been met, and covering your pupils practical and educational ‘journey’ through the seasons, from ground preparation to harvest and consumption of produce. Compilation of material for this should ideally begin as soon as possible.
For the Journal Scrapbook, as well as your Allotment/Garden(s) think about:-
Design
- General appearance and ambience
- Ease of access, pathways
- Materials used, think sustainability!
- How the plot will develop over time
- Utilisation of space
Planting
- Range of plant varieties
- Health of plants
- Planting for biodiversity
- Companion planting
- Cycle of planting
Ecology / Sustainability
- Water harvesting
- Compost production / Wormery
- Organic manures
- Planting for wildlife / Ponds / Insect Houses etc
Student engagement
- Dedicated individuals / champions
- Year Groups involved / Team work
- How is the garden used by the rest of the school community?
- School hours and/or more?
Curriculum links
- How is the garden integrated into lessons & School’s Aims & Objectives?
- Is produce used in lessons, school canteen?
- Funding – from school / raise own funds?
- Community links
Scrapbook Journal Content – as above, and showing:-
- Show progress across a year
- Student involvement
- Photographic evidence
- Updates / notes / ideas from students included
Finally an inspection visit to your Allotment/Garden will be arranged by the Judges during the second half of the summer term.
Prizes donated by Pershore College:
- The Winning School: A paid-for coach trip for a class to visit Pershore College and have a guided tour of the fantastic horticulture facilities
(the cost of the coach will be covered by the College). - Runner-Up: £100 worth of plants to choose for either your school garden or
school grounds, selected from the wide range we have available at Pershore
College Garden Centre and Nursery. - 2nd Runner-Up: £50 worth of plants to choose for either your school garden
or school grounds, selected from the wide range we have available at Pershore
College Garden Centre and Nursery.
Set in beautiful countryside between Pershore and Evesham, Pershore College is Worcestershire’s land-based college, offering a range of courses for school-leavers stretching from agri-technology to veterinary nursing. If your particular interest is plants, then Pershore College is the right place for you, as we have the best facilities in the region and different courses depending on what you want to focus on.
Timetable
Entry forms must be submitted no later than 5pm on Tuesday 30th April 2024. This should be accompanied by the school’s objectives for this aspect of its curriculum.
- A3 photographic display for the Show. Please ensure you adhere to GDPR regulations.
- In the event of a large number of entries the judges reserve the right to shortlist the gardens we would like to visit.
- Points will be allocated to each of: the garden; scrapbook journal and the objectives, with Gold, Silver and Bronze awards going to the three top scoring entries.
Deadlines
- Entry form and objectives to be submitted by Tuesday 30th April 2024 to allow adequate time for planning and carrying out site visits during the second half of the Summer Term.
- Scrapbook journal and illustrated display. Submitted no later than Friday 5th July 2024.
- Allotment plot or garden visit in early June, whilst schools are still in session.