RHS School Gardening Team of the Year 2023

Applications are now closed for the 2023 competition. Judging is now underway.

We are excited to announce that our annual search for the most passionate and dedicated gardeners from schools across the UK is back. The RHS School Gardeners of the Year competition is now open for entries for 2023. 

This year there will be two categories. Find out more about the RHS School Gardening Team of the Year 2023 category below.

Criteria:

Nominations are now open for the RHS School Gardening Team of the Year 2023 category. This year we are looking for a team that demonstrates the following qualities and approaches. This team:

• is a group of school gardeners who demonstrate exceptional passion, dedication and interest in gardening and growing. This could be a lunchtime gardening group, an after school eco club, tutor group, forest school club or representative of a school-wide, cross-year-group gardening initiative
• is from a school in the UK. (The school needs to be a member of 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.) 
• really benefits from working in the school garden or growing space. (For example, improved confidence, self-esteem, physical or mental wellbeing.)
• displays excellent teamwork in the school garden or growing space
• demonstrates an understanding of environmental and sustainability issues in their gardening and growing activities. (Perhaps the team has created wildlife-friendly habitats eg through additions such as compost heaps, bug hotels or a pond?)
• shares their passion for gardening and growing with their peers and/or others in their local community
• has helped make the school's physical environment accessible and inclusive to all. (For example, raised beds or by choosing plants that appeal to the senses such as lavender for relaxation.)

How to make a nomination:

• read the criteria outlined above
• take a look at the competition’s Terms & Conditions
• if you need any help with your nomination take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions or email schoolgardening@rhs.org.uk
• see what our 2023 judging panel have to say
• read about our 2019 School Gardening Team of the Year
• complete and submit an online nomination form by 5pm on 27 March 2023

Make a nomination

What happens next?

After the closing date we will review the nominations and select our ten finalists for this category. We will contact their nominators in April and ask them to submit a short video demonstrating why the nominated team should be the RHS School Gardening Team of the Year 2023. 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. We will announce our winners in early June.

Prizes:

We have some fantastic prizes on offer this year. Even more reason to make a nomination.

Each finalist’s school will receive £200 worth of National Garden Gift Vouchers. The two winning schools (selected from the ten finalists) will be awarded the following for their school:

• a patio glasshouse worth £1,500
• £500 worth of gardening vouchers
• a visit from a VIP to their school