RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year 2023

Overall winner

Felicity Sturge
Maths and Politics Teacher at Guildford High School
RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year 2023 Winner

About Felicity

Our RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year is Felicity Sturge, a Maths and Politics teacher at Guildford High School. In just a couple of years, Felicity has transformed an unloved patch of land into a thriving school garden filled with flowers, fruit and vegetables for students to enjoy.

Felicity is beyond thrilled to be recognised: “I am honoured to be the RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year 2023 – this really is a dream come true. It has been a privilege to be able to share with the RHS some of our gardening adventures and the joy we take in nature here. Gardening has really taken off and already benefitted the students, staff and wider community, and will continue to do so for years to come!”  

Judges' comments

"What impressed us most about Felicity was her commitment, as we know it is not easy to find the time to run a gardening programme alongside teaching responsibilities. What she has achieved within a two-year period is incredible. The local outreach network Felicity has invited in is also to be commended – it's one thing to have a school garden, but it’s quite another to share that space with 13 local primary schools so that more children can experience outdoor learning. Her engagement of sixth form aged students is also of merit, as typically we see gardening has a higher take up among primary school-aged children.”   

Our visit to Guildford High School

Read all about our visit to meet Felicity.

Felicity's entry video