SCHOOLS from across Worcestershire and getting out in the garden as they prepare to take part in this years RHS Malvern Spring Festival School Garden Challenge.
The project invites schools, home education groups and further education providers from across the surrounding counties to design, deliver and display their own garden to the public at the Royal Horticultural Society.
The theme of this year’s School Garden Challenge is Myths and Legends, inviting young people to explore magical stories, cultural heritage and powerful symbolism through the design and creation of their garden, incorporating ancient folklore, mythology, heroic tales or mythical creatures.
‘The Wyvern’ is Bridge School Malvern’s first School Garden design to be entered at RHS Malvern Spring Festival, and depicts a sensory garden based on the mythical, two-legged dragon-like creature called a Wyvern.
The design features a living lair, sculpture and fiery planting scheme, as well as local references to Malvern Priory and The Commandery in Worcester.
Pupil Alex at The River School in Worcester has spearheaded The River School’s project and is the driving force behind its design, titled ‘The Garden of Arthur’.
This garden design incorporates ideas from across the school’s year groups, depicting the infamous legend of King Arthur, and splitting the garden into 12 segments to represent the 12 knights of the round table.
Returning after a debut entry in 2025, Bankside College’s School Garden design for 2026 is titled, ‘Dungeons and Dragons’, and will incorporate exciting mythical creatures, landscapes and planting to reflect the popular role-playing game of the same name.
The design includes a dragon breathing flames made from flowers, and a maze-like structure surrounding a plinth for the dragon’s nest, along with an interactive ‘search and find’ element for visitors to enjoy.
Students from Tudor Grange Academy in Worcester return to the festival this year with a design titled, ‘Up the Airy Mountain and Down the Rushy Glen’, inspired by year 10 pupil Lilly’s interest in the myths, legends, landscapes and heritage of Scotland.
The garden incorporates mythical creatures, sleeping giants and dancing fairies into its design.
St Michael Abbey School in Tenbury Wells have based their design, ‘Blodeuwedd’s Garden’, on the Welsh folklore tale of Blodeuwedd, a woman created of flowers to be the bride of a man cursed to never marry a human woman.
The design features the national flower of Wales – the daffodil – as well as wildlife-friendly features in homage to the folklore tale, which ends with Blodeuwedd transforming into an owl.
Kate Dufton, RHS Malvern Spring Festival Show Manager said: “We love seeing the designs for the School Garden Challenge each year and we’re always very impressed with how children and young people have creatively interpreted the brief and brought their ideas to life through their planting.
“The School Garden Challenge is a great way to promote gardening and horticulture to children and young people, encouraging their creativity and story-telling through garden design, as well as helping to develop their confidence and self-esteem and giving them the opportunity to work as a team and develop their communication skills.
“It’s also a great way to further their understanding of the environment and sustainability, alongside supporting various elements of the national curriculum and developing hands-on skills that they can nurture and develop throughout life.”
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