Schools create biodiverse havens at Tatton Park

We tasked groups of children and young people from schools, gardening clubs, forest schools and youth groups to create a biodiverse haven for RHS Flower Show Tatton Park - here are the results.

26 July 2023

The theme for this year was biodiversity - we were on the lookout for entries to encourage or celebrate this theme by including UK wildlife-friendly elements, and the results certainly didn't disappoint. In showcasing the children's creations at the show, we hope to instill a sense of pride and achievement within them, knowing they're inspiring and teaching others about what they have learned and created.

Biodiversity for our Future

Birches Head Academy

Among the pollinator-friendly plants and wildlife-attracting structures are messages on biodiversity from the 11–16-year-old students.

Three Degrees

Broomwood Primary School, Forest Preparatory School, The Willows Primary School & Chris Walker Plants

This space demonstrates the ‘three sisters’ planting method – where three plants support each other – with safe bug areas and habitats, and a ‘carecrow’ to watch over the garden.

CHS Secret Garden

Cheadle Hulme School

These primary school children included plants for pollinators, a wormery and bug houses in their design. Upcycled books represent the educational importance of biodiversity.

Birds, Bugs and Butterflies!

Croft Primary School

A variety of flowering plants and veg illustrate the valued role of insects and birds, with a pond to support wildlife, and fenceposts adapted to help feed birds, bugs and hogs.

Our Safe Space

Darnhall Primary School

Providing a safe retreat for children who might be feeling overwhelmed, this calm space with bug hotels and hedgehog houses doubles as a safe space for wildlife, too.

Percy and Friends

Handforth Grange Primary School

Inspired by the Percy the Park Keeper stories, this design has wildlife homes, feeders, shrubs and flowers to attract birds and insects.

Life on Land

Litton CE (A) Primary School


Reflecting the school’s Peak District location is a dry limestone riverbed and a representation of ash dieback effects, expressing UN Global Goals principles to inspire action on biodiversity.

Our ‘Bio-Diverse’ Container Garden

Marfields Primary Academy

This checkerboard container packs all the diverse habitats a garden needs into a single pot, with mini areas including ponds, forests, bird and bug feeders, wildlife homes, and even a tiny meadow garden.

We Never Tyre of Helping Biodiversity

Park Community Academy

This design from a Blackpool SEN school is inspired by the insects and creatures that populate UK gardens. It centres around three fun and colourful tyre planters, featuring flowers, plants and habitats that promote biodiversity.

Hewenden Viaduct

Parkside Secondary School

Inspired by their local landmark, this mini garden contains a mini viaduct with living roof, bug hotel, small pond, bird-feeding station, hedgehog house and nectar-rich planting for pollinators.

Brilliant British Biodiversity and Reading for Pleasure

Peover Superior Primary School

The design features British plant species that encourage wildlife to flourish and a Big Biodiversity Book of Brilliant Bs, with willow and log reading areas to sit and enjoy books.

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Royal School Manchester

Staff and pupils of this special needs school grew most of the plants for this garden, from cuttings or seeds, while materials have been upcycled.

A Journey Through Middle Earth

St George's Primary School Wallasey

Tolkien’s fantastical lands and favourite stories inspired this biodiversity-championing garden from Wallasey primary school pupils.

The Dream Garden

St Vincent’s Specialist School for Sensory Impairment and Other Needs

This dreamy garden includes a pond, deadwood and annual and perennial plants, all grown from seed or tubers by the students themselves.

Superdiversity Garden

Skipton Girls' High School

This year-round wildlife habitat includes pollinator-friendly planting, bird boxes, bug hotels, hedgehog houses, and a small pond made from a recycled tub.

The Bug Khalifa Paradise Garden

Walmsley Primary School 

This playful reinterpretation of an Islamic paradise garden contains a towering insect hotel named The Bug Khalifa at its centre. The garden is divided into four quarters and each provides a different habitat.

Biodiversity in Different Habitats

Wellacre Academy 

Pupils at this secondary school have designed their garden focusing on UK biodiversity. Showcasing some familiar local habitats, there are four mini gardens within the space including a pond, farm, home garden and beach/dune area.

WKGS

West Kirby Grammar School

Inspired by ideas garnered from a range of students within the school community, this container garden celebrates biodiversity and incorporates recycled and upcycled materials.

Wildflower Meadow

Whirley Primary School

Conjured up with inspiration found in the diversity of the insect and plant worlds, this garden contains an array of climbers and wildflowers together with hand-crafted bug homes made from recycled materials.


Check out how schools in the southeast got involved at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival this year, with colourfully planted oil drums: view the entries here.

Know any schools based near one of the RHS shows? Keep your eyes peeled on our social media channels in early 2024, as we announce how children and young people can get involved in next year's shows.