RHS School Gardening Team of the Year 2018

Supported by Gabriel Ash

Hitchin Youth Allotment (HiYA) / The Priory School
Hitchin
RHS School Gardening Team of the Year 2018 Finalist

About Hitchin Youth Allotment (HiYA) / The Priory School

HiYA is an entirely voluntary project where children grow fruit and vegetables, learn gardening skills and are really hands on. Launched in March 2017 it is a joint initiative between the Priory School and Hitchin Allotment Association, and now involves over 150 young people, including uniformed groups. They work together in small groups, helping each other. Their collaboration makes the project sustainable, and they are also creating links to the wider community by holding popular open days.

Judges' comments

"We loved this initiative, which provides an outdoor space for so many different groups of children to learn gardening skills and discover where their food comes from!"

"The Hitchin Youth Allotment project is a fantastic idea! Children from the Priory School and local youth groups clearly love getting to grips with the great outdoors - and it's brilliant to see so many local businesses getting behind it too and providing support. Amazing effort everyone - you should be really proud of what you're doing."

Hitchin Youth Allotment (HiYA) / The Priory School's entry video