Tatton urges Oldham youngsters to join garden gang

FLOWER power . . .the swinging Sixties

Schools in spotlight at flower show
OLDHAM’S schools are being encouraged to dig in and create a garden for next year’s RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park.

Green-fingered pupils from across the North-West are taking centre stage at this year’s event, which runs until Sunday.

The theme is horrible histories for primaries and horrible sciences for secondaries — with 22 gardens inspired by everything from the Great Fire of London and the swinging sixties to medicinal plants through the ages.

The youngsters have worked across the national curriculum to create the gardens, using maths, art, science, history, design and technology.

On a smaller scale, pupils have grown plants in everything from wellies to old tins in the school container competition.

Oldham schools are being urged to take part in 2014 and RHS director general Sue Biggs said: “Lined up against against spectacular gardens by professionals, these school gardens can really hold their own and are a favourite year after year.

“As a nation, we still have a long way to go before we are able to say that every school child in the UK has access to a balcony, their own community garden or park, where they can learn about gardening, where their food comes from and just having fun with beautiful plants.

“But I can’t help thinking that the enthusiasm I see on the faces of those children that come to our gardens and shows can only mean that we are doing the right thing.”

For the first time the show has been split into four distinct zones — grow, escape, inspire and feast — which each feature a combination of show gardens, plants, food and shopping to reflect the theme of the area.

The popular large and small show gardens include the gold medal-winning Reflections of Japan created for the new £5 million Bury Hospice by the Japanese Garden Society.

There is also a seaside-inspired garden by New Charter Housing, Ashton, which won a silver flora medal.

Other highlights include the young designers’ gardens, the new galaxy gardens category inspired by Jodrell Bank Observatory, the national flower bed competition, the floral marquee, allotments and the floral design studio.

Today is ladies day with the chance to win a free flower every month of the year if you catch the judges’ eye.