North Yorkshire Primary School Competition
Growing the next generation of gardeners.
Calling all budding young gardeners across North Yorkshire!
We’re inviting primary schools in North Yorkshire to take part in a fun and creative competition to design their very own pollinator-friendly garden - a space full of colour, interest and buzzing life! It’s all part of our aim to inspire the next generation of gardeners and celebrate the joy of growing things.
Why We're Running This Competition
The Garden of Plenty competition is part of the North of England Horticultural Society’s ongoing commitment to support and promote horticulture across the north of England.
Established in 1911, the NEHS is an independent charity that stages the prestigious twice-yearly Harrogate Flower Show as a key element of its work in bringing together people and organisations to share and engage in the benefits of horticulture, unique to the north of England.
By encouraging young people to get involved in garden design, growing fruit and veg and considering pollinator-friendly planting, this competition reflects our mission to share vital horticultural skills and knowledge and will hopefully serve to inspire the next generation of gardeners.
The Challenge: Design a Pollinator-Friendly 'Garden of Plenty'
We’re looking for imaginative and practical designs for a garden that brings together the best seasonal fruit and vegetables and flowers that pollinators love. It should be a cheerful space that could thrive in a school setting and get children excited about gardening. Considerations for your garden design:
• Include a mix of vegetables (carrots, beans, lettuce—anything that’s fun, delicious and easy to grow).
• Feature nectar-rich flowers and plants that attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators.
• Be designed with school children in mind - encouraging learning, play, and discovery.
• Think about what would make it fun and enjoyable for children to plant, care for, and harvest.
• Perhaps incorporate ideas for sustainability, such as composting, water conservation, upcycled garden features or a bug hotel.
• The garden must fit within a 3m x 3m raised bed or equivalent footprint – see design template.
Let your imagination bloom!
Please use the resources below - Teacher's Support Pack and Design Template
What You Could Win
The winning garden design will be built and showcased at the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show taking place 19 - 21 September 2025 at Newby Hall & Gardens and will be there for up to 30,000 visitors to view and enjoy over three days. This year's show will have lots of fun and engaging family activities including birds of prey, a petting zoo, free gardening and posy making workshops and growing competitions for children.
The winning school will have their garden design built in full on the school premises.
Runner-up prizes and certificates will be awarded to other standout entries.
A selection of shortlisted designs will also be displayed at the show, celebrating the creativity and care of young gardeners from across the region.
Who Can Enter?
This competition is open to both KS1 and KS2 students at primary schools in North Yorkshire.
Schools must select one entry only to submit and can:
• Involve the whole school
• Run it as a classroom activity or school club project (e.g. after school or eco/gardening club)
• Submit an individual, group or collaborative class design entry
Whether it’s a solo idea or a team effort, we want to see your school’s very best!
How to Enter
Use the design template to create your design. We welcome everything from neat plans to wildly imaginative ideas drawings, collages, or digital designs. Submit design on A3 paper or as a digital file (PDF or high-resolution image). Each entry must include:
• A title for your garden
• A short explanation of the design or labels for the key features
• Your school’s name
• Pupils name or the group/class
• Year group
• School contact details – lead teacher name, email, school phone number and address.
Entries should be emailed to [email protected] or posted to the address below by Friday 18 July 2025.
Harrogate Flower Shows
Unit 15 The Stables
Newby Hall
Ripon
HG4 5AE
The winners will be announced and contacted by Friday 5 September.
If you have any further questions please contact us at [email protected] or call 01423 648 212.
Let’s nurture the gardeners of tomorrow!
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