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Special needs school garden wins flower show gold

Crispin RolfeBBC News
News imageTrent View College A student wearing a navy blue t-shirt and pink lanyard holds a basket of plants on her knees as she sits in her wheelchair. She is pictured in front of the school's display, which is contained within brown sleepers and has a mixture of plants and vegetables including lavender and artichokes.Trent View College
Kyla has helped win gold with this display at RHS Wentworth Woodhouse

A special needs school's kitchen garden has been recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

Dubbed "the Living Larder", the garden – comprising a mix of vegetables and flowers – has been created by students from Scunthorpe's Trent View College.

It received a gold award at RHS's flower show, which is being held at Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire.

Head teacher Sarah Parker said gardening helped young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to develop employability skills.

News imageA variety of flowers and vegetables surrounded by wooden borders stands in front of a large stately home under a blue sky.
The display at Wentworth Woodhouse includes a mix of flowers and vegetables

Students spent months growing plants from seed to create the display, which was transported to the flower show.

According to a description on the RHS website, key features of the garden are "white flowers, purple vegetables and green foliage".

The charity said this resulted in a "striking visual impact through a carefully considered interplay of colour, texture, and structure".

All the produce grown is due to be donated to a local food bank.

News imageA woman in a black wheelchair with a red gardening pouch carries a leafy plant on her lap. She is smiling, has swept back brown hair, and is wearing a navy blue school top.
Kyla, 18, helps transport plants for the display

Kyla, 18, one of the students involved in the project, said: "I enjoy planting, watering and growing from seed."

Her teachers said gardening had helped her become more independent.

Ms Parker said: "One of our main aims [of gardening] is to support as many young people as possible into employment."

Gardening gave her students "value and purpose", she added.

News imageTwo young men both wearing navy blue school uniforms use tools and pots. Lewis has blonde hair and is working with a grey plastic plant pot on the left. Blake has a green trowel and is examining a red leaf.
Students Lewis and Blake re-pot plants for the garden

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