Students receive Aylesbury in Bloom garden competition awards

Each year, Aylesbury Town Council organises the Aylesbury in Bloom Garden Competition which is designed for residents, schools, organisations and businesses of all gardening abilities to enter.

The seven local schools which entered were given their awards at an award evening in the gardens of Lindengate in Wendover on Thursday 7 July.

Our judges, Jackie Bennett, Tina Hill and Sue Wright, visited the schools to see the work students had put into their entries for the Best Garden in a Pot, Best Edible Garden, Best Learning/Recreational Garden and Best Wildlife Garden.

Points were given for various criteria and the overall number of points determined if the school would get a Bronze, Silver, Silver Gilt or Gold award.

The judges were looking for the use of colour, texture and scent, horticultural maintenance, the choice of plants and overall design and decoration.

Aylesbury High School – Wildlife/Nature Garden (Silver)

The judges were impressed with the range of plants and habitats within the school’s garden. The homemade birds table and calming atmosphere were both noted by judges.

Haydon Abbey School and Pre School
Best Edible Garden (Gold), Best Wildlife/Nature Garden (Gold) and Best Overall Garden

The enthusiasm from the students couldn’t go unnoticed. They each had good knowledge of their garden plus used organic ways of pest control. The school scored highly for their nature garden and judges were impressed with the range of wildlife in their garden which included slow worms.

Turnfurlong Junior School
Best Edible Garden (Silver Gilt), Best Wildlife/Nature Garden (Gold), Best Recreational/Learning Garden (Gold)

The children were enthusiastic and proud of their gardening achievements. Judges were impressed with their wormery, bug hotel crushed eggshells to deter slugs from their garden.

Thomas Hickman School
Best Wildlife/Nature Garden (Silver Gilt), Best Recreational/Learning Garden (Silver Gilt)
Judges Commendation – Most Improved

Judges were interested in the school’s gardening club and how the garden had different areas and uses. A special commendation was given for the Most Improved Garden.

Pebble Brook School
Best Edible Garden (Bronze), Best Recreational/Learning Garden (Bronze)

The school was commended on their runner beans and that gardening is incorporated to the student’s day-to-day curriculum.

Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School
Best Wildlife/Nature Garden (Silver Gilt)

Students demonstrated great knowledge and enthusiasm which impressed the judges. The area was very attractive with a lot of diversity included in a small area including recycled material.