RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year 2020

Supported by Hartley Botanic

Unfortunately, we have taken the decision to cancel our School Gardeners of the Year competition 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Nominations are now closed for the RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year 2020.

Our School Gardening Champion of the Year will be an adult (teacher, gardening club leader, volunteer etc.) who is an inspiration to the pupils they teach and has shown a passion for encouraging gardening in their school, as well as linking gardening to the curriculum. 

This year we are delighted to be supported by Hartley Botanic who have donated a patio glasshouse to the winner of this category.
 

How does it work?

After the closing date, we will select our finalists and ask them to make a short video demonstrating and explaining why their nominated person should be the winner.

These videos will then be watched by our panel of judges, including TV Gardener Frances Tophill, to decide who will be crowned RHS Gardening Champion of the Year 2020!

Prizes: 

All entries will receive a printed certificate.

Each of the selected finalists and their schools will be asked to create and submit a nomination video which will be watched by celebrity gardener Frances Tophill and RHS judges.

Following the judging, each finalist will receive £250 in National Garden Gift Vouchers for their school. The finalists will also win an engraved hand trowel trophy and framed certificate.
 
The winner (selected from the four finalists) will be awarded all of the above for their school, as well as:

• A patio glasshouse from Hartley Botanic (see below)
• A visit from a VIP to their school
• £100 worth of seeds  
• an extra £250 in National Garden Gift Vouchers, a total of £500.

 

About last year's winner: Michelle Jones

'Mum on a mission’ Michelle is passionate about teaching children where food comes from and is the driving force behind a flourishing school gardening club that has got 50 families on board to grow food in the school grounds.

Families now flock to Michelle’s weekly gardening sessions, many of whom don’t have gardens at home, and the school grounds are bursting with fresh fruit and vegetables for the whole school to enjoy. 

You can watch his nomination video and read what some of our judges said about her here.