FAQs – RHS School Gardeners of the Year
Applications are now closed for the 2023 competition. Judging is now underway.
Nominations
When is the deadline for nominations?
Nominations need to be submitted via one of the online nomination forms (RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year 2023 or RHS School Gardening Team of the Year 2023) by 5pm on 27 March 2023. No nominations will be accepted after this time.
Can the nomination form be viewed offline?
PDF versions of the nomination forms are available here: RHS School Gardening Team of the Year PDF and RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year PDF to enable the forms to be viewed offline. All applications however should be submitted via our online nomination forms.
Who can make a nomination?
The person making the nomination must be an adult (age 18 and over) and must be an appointed representative of a school. For example a teacher, teaching assistant, member of the Senior Leadership Team, parent helper or volunteer or a school governor.
Can I make more than one nomination?
Only one entry will be accepted per adult nominated for the RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year. In the case where two are received, only the first will be accepted. However, schools may nominate more than one adult via separate nomination forms.
Only one nomination will be accepted per RHS School Gardening Team of the Year. In the case where two are received, only the first will be accepted.
Eligibility
Is this competition open to schools outside the UK?
No. This competition is for schools within the UK (England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland) that are registered to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. If your school is not currently registered, you can register online for free. If you're not sure if your school is registered you can check by typing your school's postcode, name or address into the text box at the top of this page.
If your school is outside of the UK you can register as a ‘group’ for the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. You can work your way through our five School Gardening Awards.
The individual/team being nominated aren't at a school registered to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. Can they still be nominated?
The nominated adult (aged 18 years and over) must be working or volunteering at a school registered to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening that is within the UK (England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland). Everyone in the nominated team must attend a school registered to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening that is within the UK (England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland). If the school is not currently registered, you can register online for free. The person nominating can then complete a nomination form for the Champion or Team.
What sort of school team can be nominated for RHS School Gardening Team of the Year?
The RHS School Gardening Team of the Year could be a lunchtime gardening group, an after-school eco club, a tutor group, forest school club or a school-wide, cross-year-group gardening initiative. As long as the team is a group of school gardeners who have demonstrated exceptional passion, dedication and interest in gardening and meet the criteria outlined we'd love to hear about them.
Can a child be nominated for the RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year?
No. The individuals nominated for the RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year category must be 18 years or over. A team of children can be nominated for the RHS School Gardening Team of the Year category. There is no RHS Young School Gardener of the Year category this year.
Can groups or individuals who work with children outside of schools enter RHS School Gardeners of the Year?
As this is a school competition we can’t accept nominations for teams or champions from private nurseries, playgroups, youth groups, youth clubs, uniformed groups, child-minders and home educators. However, these groups and individuals can still register for the RHS Campaign for School Gardening and work their way through our five School Gardening Awards.
Can RHS employees make a nomination?
No. The RHS School Gardeners of the Year competition is open to UK residents, excluding i) employees, agents or subcontractors of the RHS, ii) any Competition sponsor or its employees, agents or subcontractors, iii) the immediate families of such employees, agents, subcontractors or sponsors.
Can a team or individual who has been a finalist or winner in this competition before be nominated again?
No. If a team or individual has been a finalist or winner in this competition before they can’t be nominated again. Schools registered to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening can still work their way through our five School Gardening Awards.
The nomination process
What happens to a nomination after it has been submitted?
After the closing date, 5pm on 27 March 2023, the Campaign for School Gardening Team will review the nominations and select ten finalists for the RHS School Gardening Team of the Year category and five finalists for the RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year category. We will contact their nominators in April and ask them to submit a short video to demonstrate why the nominated team or champion should win.
These videos will then be watched by our panel of judges, including horticulturalist Frances Tophill, in May to decide who should be crowned RHS School Gardening Team of the Year 2023 and RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year 2023. We will announce our winners in June.
Who is on this year’s judging panel?
Each judge on this year's panel has a passion for school gardening. They are: George Hassall, RHS Young Ambassador and Young School Gardener of the Year 2014; Frances Tophill, horticulturist, author and TV presenter; and Matt Willer, Founder of The Papillion Project and RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year 2018.
Will those who submit nominations receive feedback on their entries?
Unfortunately, due to the high number of applications we receive we will not be able to provide individual feedback. We will contact the relevant nominators in April and ask them to submit a short video demonstrating why the nominated team/individual should be the RHS School Gardening Team of the Year 2023/RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year 2023.
Prizes and winners
How many winners will there be?
There will be ten finalists for the RHS School Gardening Team of the Year category, two of these will be chosen as overall winners for the category. There will be five finalists for the RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year category, one of these finalists will be chosen as the overall category winner.
What prizes are on offer for 2023?
We have some fantastic prizes on offer this year. Even more reason to make a nomination! The finalist schools in both categories will receive £200 worth of National Garden Gift Vouchers. The winning schools will each be awarded £500 worth of gardening vouchers, a patio glasshouse worth £1,500 and receive a visit from a VIP.
Can the winners and finalists exchange their prizes for cash?
No. The prizes must be accepted as stated and cannot be altered. There will be no cash alternatives. Vouchers cannot be exchanged for their value.
How can I find out more about previous winners of RHS School Gardeners of the Year?
Follow these links to find out about the winners of the RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year and RHS School Gardening Team of the Year categories for 2019.
Contact us
Who can I contact at the RHS about this competition?
If you can’t find the information you are looking for on this site then please email schoolgardening@rhs.org.uk and a member of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening Team will be happy to help.