Judges Recognise Alderman Bolton Pupils Growing Skills

Judges at the recent Arley Hall Garden Festival in Northwich awarded Alderman Bolton pupils a prize in their School Garden Challenge.

Pupils at the Warrington Primary Academy Trust school took part in the recent festival and achieved the runner-up spot in the schools competition for a flower bed designed and planted by them at the festival site.

Proud Alderman Bolton Primary Academy pupils with their prize winning Arley Hall Garden Festival flowerbed. From left: Skylar Whiteside, Milosz Kwiatkowski, Kacie Louise Newens, Ollie Bannon, Finley Snape and Lewis Houghton.

Fourteen schools took part in the competition. Alderman Bolton Primary's entry won them £60 worth of gardening vouchers to spend in the Arley Hall Nursery.

The contest was a perfect opportunity for the children to show off their skills and knowledge of growing plants. Alderman Bolton Primary Academy has been running a gardening club for a number of years, giving children the opportunity to learn about the environment, grow different plants and create beautiful spaces at school and in the local community for people to enjoy. The pupils also apply their garden-based learning in science lessons.

Sarah Morris, Headteacher of Alderman Bolton Primary School, said: “It was great experience and one we hope to repeat next year. It couldn’t have been possible without the leadership of our wonderful teaching assistant, Glenis Sharp. We are all incredibly grateful for the time she commits to the club.

“I am so proud of the effort, creativity, teamwork, knowledge and perseverance the members of our gardening club show.

“It was real pleasure watching them articulate the journey of their flower bed with members of the public and judges at Arley Hall.

“The judges felt the approach our gardening club took really embodied the essence of the competition which was to teach children how to grow plants from seed, understand their purposes, provide opportunities for creativity and foster a love of gardening.”