RHS Young School Gardener of the Year 2020

Supported by Hartley Botanic

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

We're looking for a young person with a passion for plants. If you know a young person aged 5-16 who has the gardening bug let us know. They don't have to be horticulturalists, they just have to love growing!
 

How does it work?

To nominate a young person, complete the online application form (located in the green box) and make sure you have consent from parents to do so. 

After the closing date, we will select our finalists and ask them to make a short video demonstrating and explaining why their nominated young 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 Young School Gardener of the Year 2020! 

Prizes: 

All entries will receive a printed certificate.

Following the judging, each finalist will win £100 worth of National Garden Gift Vouchers for their school. The finalists will also be awarded an engraved hand trowel trophy and a framed certificate.

The four winners (one from each age group) will each receive an engraved hand trowel, a set of gardening tools and £250 worth of National Garden Gift Vouchers for their school.

In addition to the above, the overall winner will win the following prizes for their school:

• A Hartley Botanic patio glasshouse worth £1,250
• An additional £250 in National Gardening Gift Vouchers, making a total of £500
• £100 worth of seeds
• A visit from TV Gardener, Frances Tophill, to present their prizes and carry out a gardening activity with the winner

Age categories: 

• Aged 5 - 7 (KS1 or P1 & P2)
• Aged 7 - 11 (KS2 or P3 - 6)
• Aged 11 - 14 (KS3 or P7 & S1 - 2)
• Aged 14 - 16 (KS4 or S3 - 4) 

About last year's winner: William Rae

Growing everything from radishes to rhubarb, knowledgeable young gardener William enjoys sharing his love of gardening with his schoolmates; instigating a garlic growing competition and mentoring his fellow pupils.

In addition to spending a huge amount of time in the school garden, William also recognises the wider environmental benefits of growing your own such as cutting down on plastic packaging and food miles.  

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