Open to all schools in Worcester with school garden involvement.

Pershore College is proud to sponsor the Schools’ Gardening Competition

ClassDescription
Class 1401The Pershore College Worcester Schools Garden Competition - Open to all schools in Worcester with a school allotment / garden which will be judged by a qualified RHS judge. The school will also need to produce for exhibition at the Show an A3 Display (landscape) showing off the best bits about your garden, please label/annotate photos.
Class 1402New An allotment or garden in a seed tray
Class 1403New A Bug House, must be able to be displayed on a standard table.
Class 1404New A scrapbook diary of your garden showing the changes in the calendar year.
Class 1405New An arrangement of produce from your garden displayed in a basket or trug.

Section rules

Open to all schools in Worcester with your entry being measured  against a standardised set of Criteria.

We will 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 & biodiversity learning experiences.

  • Application form submission deadline – Friday 27th March 2026

Class 1401 Allotment / Garden

The Allotment / garden will be visited by a qualified Judge (RHS) during the Summer Term. Timings will be planned and agreed to avoid half-term and exam periods.

  • The Judge will rank the schools first to last. This will be supported with a short appraisal of each site.

The Show Display

This should include as much information as possible about the Garden and its development during the year. Please provide one A3 landscape sheet/card containing:-

  1. Title – your school’s name and logo
  2. Photographs to illustrate your display
  3. Labels and annotations of your photographs
  4. Be creative!

Plus Anything else of interest to enhance your Display. Please ensure you adhere to GDPR regulations.

Class 1402 An Allotment in a Seed Tray

Create your dream allotment or garden in a seed tray. This can be done collaboratively as a group or by individuals. This class can be submitted in advance to the Guildhall, or exhibited on the day. Please note, if submitting in advance, do not include living plants as we can not be responsible for watering. If you use living plants, exhibits will need to be staged by students or staff on Show day.

Class 1403 A Bug House

Build a bug house, be as creative as you like! Please ensure your bug house is suitable for display on a table in the marquee, the base should not to exceed 610mm x 610mm.

Class 1404 A Scrapbook Diary

These should tell the Story of the Garden through the gardening year.

Class 1405 An Arrangement of Produce

An arrangement of produce grown in your allotment/garden, designed in either a trug or basket

Deadlines

  1. Entry form and objectives to be submitted by Friday 27th March 2026 to allow adequate time for planning and carrying out site visits during the Summer Term.
  2. Allotment plot or garden visit in the summer, whilst schools are still in session. To be arranged.
  3. Show Display (for garden competition) to be submitted no later than Friday 17th July 2026 to the Guildhall, High Street, Worcester, WR1 2EY.
  4. Classes 1402 to 1405 can be submitted to the Guildhall, High Street, Worcester, WR1 2EY no later than Friday 17th July 2026; OR staged on Saturday 8th August 2026 by students or staff between 8.30am and 11.30am.

Prizes donated by Pershore College for the Garden Competition:

  • 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.

Smaller prizes will be awarded by Pershore College to winners of classes 1402 to 1405.

Pershore College

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.

Hints & Tips

For the Allotment/Garden and Scrapbook Diary, 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