PUPILS from 14 schools in Bournemouth took part in a competition to find the town’s most enthusiastic young gardeners.

The winners of the Bournemouth in Bloom Annual Schools Competition were announced at a special ceremony in the town hall led by the Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr Eddie Coope.

It had five categories, which were vegetable garden, flower garden, sensory garden, wildlife garden and themed planter for which there is gold, silver gilt, silver and bronze prizes awarded.

Lynda Clarke, schools coordinator for Bournemouth in Bloom, 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.

“The Mayor presented them with their hard-earned trophies, certificates and prizes and congratulated the young people and adult supporters for everything they had achieved.”

The Best Young Gardeners Award, which included engraved hand tools donated by Burgon and Ball, went to Corpus Christi RC Primary School. The trophy for the school who had made the most progress was given to St Luke’s CE Primary School, while the chairman of Bournemouth in Bloom, Reverend Chris Colledge, presented an award to St Michael’s CE Primary School for their Community Growth project.

Lynda added that they were delighted that the number of schools entering the competition was “growing year-on-year”.

She thanked the Mayor of Bournemouth and all the sponsors of this year’s schools competition.

The 14 schools which entered the event were Bournemouth School for Girls, Corpus Christi RC Primary School, St Clements and Bethany Federation CE Schools, Glenmoor and Winton Academies, Hill View Primary School and Linwood School.

Malmesbury Park Primary School also took part as did Queens Park Junior Academy, St James’ CE Primary School, St Luke’s CE Primary School, St Michael’s CE Primary School, Stourfield Infant Academy, The Bishop of Winchester Academy and Winton Primary School.

The judging of the South and South East in Bloom competition took place on Thursday last week. Bournemouth will be judged as a finalist of Britain in Bloom on Tuesday, August 2.