SCHOOLS were commended for their gardens in their own category of Bournemouth in Bloom which encourages children to take pride in the outdoors.

The Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr John Adams, and his mayoress, Ms Suzi Curtis, were on hand to present the 2015 award certificates at the schools ceremony, held at the Town Hall, on Friday.

Winners included Stourfield Junior School who received the Gold award in the Vegetables, Fruit and Herbs category, Hill View Primary School won Gold in for Fruit and Shrubs and Linwood School scooped the top award for a Sensory Garden.

Lynda Clarke, schools co-ordinator for the awards, said: "Bournemouth in Bloom supports local schools to develop their pupils’ skills and enthusiasm for gardening.

"Their aim is to encourage schools to make gardening fun and help pupils to learn through doing. Children and young people are taught, not only to garden, but to take pride in their local environment."

Seven schools entered the competition including Bournemouth School for Girls, Elm Academy, Glenmoor and Winton Academies, Hill View Primary School, Linwood School, Malmesbury Park Primary School and Stourfield Junior School.

At the end of the ceremony, Reverend Chris Colledge, chairman of Bournemouth in Bloom, thanked the Mayor for attending.

Lily Smith and Isabella Willington from Hill View Primary School also made a presentation to the Mayoress.

Bournemouth schools were also successful in the South and South East England in Bloom competition with four gold awards, one silver and one silver-gilt. Stourfield Junior School was also named as the Dorset County winner.