Schools In Bloom Winners
The winners of the Schools in Bloom contest for the St Albans District have been chosen from a record number of entries.
Twenty schools entered the competition, now in its sixth year, which encourages infant and primary school children to take an interest in nature and gardening.
All of this year’s categories were on the theme of wildlife gardening to highlight the need to provide habitats for bees, birds and other creatures.
The winners were presented with their awards at a ceremony at the offices of St Albans City and District Council which organised the contest.
Prizes for winners and the runners-up included planters, watering cans, bird feeders, nest boxes, seed trays and compost with all other entrants receiving a goodie bag.
St Albans Mayor, Councillor Janet Smith, hosted the event and said:
I was hugely impressed by all the truly marvellous entries.
The gardening skills and knowledge demonstrated by these pupils were quite amazing. They have created gardens, flower displays, vegetables and the tallest sunflower I think I’ve ever seen.
This is an inspiring competition as it aims to help children learn about and care for the environment and wildlife. These very important topics at a time when we are faced with a climate emergency.
The winners were:
- Fabulous Flowers: Cunningham Hill Junior School. They grew the best selection of flowering plants for pollinators and for wildlife
- Marvellous Minibeasts: Wheatfields Infants and Nursery School. This category recognised the importance of invertebrates and creating habitats for a diversity of species.
- Scrapyard Scarecrow: Crabtree Infants School. They recycled rubbish to build a scarecrow on an environmental theme,
- Vibrant Vegetables: Camp Primary and Nursery School. The award focused on the principles of growing vegetables
- Wonderful Wildlife: Margaret Wix Primary School. This award encouraged the creation of a wide range of habitats.
- Super Sunflower Challenge: Wood End School. They grew the tallest sunflower, measuring 171cm.
The competition was run in partnership with the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, John O’Conner, Carpenters Nursery and Burston Garden Centre.
Carpenters Nursery provided the prizes for the winners and runners-up while Burston Garden Centre donated the goodie bags.
Contact for the Mayor’s office:
Alison Orde,
the Mayor’s Civic Officer
Tel: 01727 819544,
Email: mayoralty@stalbans.gov.uk.
Media contact:
John McJannet,
Principal Communications Officer
Tel: 01727 81953,
Email: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.