Bedales Prep School, Dunhurst receives top award from Royal Horticultural Society

Published on isbi School News dated Tuesday 19th of January 2016

Bedales Prep School, Dunhurst, has received a top award from the UK’s leading gardening charity, the Royal Horticultural Society, in recognition of its school gardening achievements. The school is a member of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening and caters for children aged 8-13 teaching subjects such as Outdoor Work and lessons in sustainability. Dunhurst has been a member of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening since 2015. The Campaign is a nationwide initiative that inspires and supports schools to provide children with gardening opportunities to enhance their skills and boost their development. Schools are helped to progress in their garden with the RHS School Gardening Awards, a scheme made up of five levels offering resources and guidance from the planning stages through to integrating the garden into daily school life. Upon completing each level, the school is sent a certificate and prize. Ryan Walsh, Head of Outdoor Work at Dunhurst, said: “Horticulture is a personal passion, and I am delighted that the pupils have also shown such enthusiasm – particularly growing their own fruit and vegetables. Every child in the school has been involved in horticulture in some way – whether it be sowing seeds, grafting apple trees, building compost bins and vegetable beds, weeding or harvesting. But the pupils have also taken this passion out into the community, and we have a regular gardening slot at our local church in Steep and have helped with planting schemes at St. James’ CE Primary School, Emsworth.” For reaching Level Five, Dunhurst has been awarded £200 in National Garden Gift Vouchers and an ‘RHS Five Star Gardening School’ plaque which is on display in the grounds. Green-fingered Josh, year 8, said: “I like to garden because it is a very nice feeling to know that you are growing your own food, know where it has come from, and that it is healthy.” For more information about Bedales Prep School, Dunhurst, visit: www.bedales.org.uk/prep and for the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, visit www.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening