Derby students dig in to UK gardening challenge

Green-fingered students from Derby High School are set to compete in the regional final of a UK-wide garden design contest.

Posted by Hannah Oakman | November 18, 2016 | Sports & Leisure

Six Derby High School students have entered the RHS Green Plan It Challenge to design a green space within their school grounds.

The students and Lesley Hough, Head of Design Technology at Derby High School, visited Birmingham Botanical Gardens in September for the preliminary stage of the competition.

They were assigned an industry mentor, Karen Martin, who trains apprentices at Pershore College in Worcester, and met her on the day. Students also took part in a game and were taken on a tour of the glasshouses. In December they will return to Birmingham Botanical Gardens to take part in the Midlands section of the challenge.

They have been busy designing and making a model of a Roald Dahl-themed garden in the grounds of Derby High School, which includes topiary chairs and giant BFG footprints that are planted with flowers. On the day of the regional final they will deliver a report on the concept to a panel of assessors which will include a power-point and involve all team members.

Mrs Hough said: “The students have been very busy making their model, which is going to look great, and preparing their pitch. We look forward to returning to Birmingham to compete against all the other schools in December and putting Derby High School on the map.”