Student Garden Competition

The Ladbrooks School Student Garden Competition is held annually. A  judge visits the student's garden at home  to view it and have a discussion about the garden layout, the student’s knowledge and the process of developing and caring for it. The three aspects are each marked out of 20. For example, the judges will be interested in how well the student can talk about their knowledge and understanding of:

Site choice
Site layout
Soil preparation and treatment
Composting/feeding of the soil
Plant choice
Care and maintenance
Pest control

The garden can be as big or small as a child wants, is not only limited to traditional vegetable or flower producing, though those are fine if that is what sparks a child’s interest (or for eg , herbs  or succulents may have the novel factor that a child would like to embrace). Any choice is fine however  it must be the child’s own garden and not one set up and cared for by an adult.

The entrant will be placed in one of two age groups and in one of two experience levels. These are:

Beginner Junior – NE – Yr 4 (entering the school garden competition for the first time)

Experienced Junior –Yr 1 -4, ( has previously entered in our garden competition) 

Beginner Senior – Yr 5-8 (not previously entered in our garden competition)

Experienced Senior – Yr 5-8 (previous entry in our garden competition)

Trophies and Cups 

For each of the 4 levels the following awards are made:

Cup/Trophy  for 1st place + Rosette 

Rosette for 2nd place

Rosette  for 3rd place

Commendation Certificates for other entrants 

There is an additional certificate presented for any completed projects

Projects are a voluntary addition. They may be completed if wished and can be helpful in keeping important information about the garden in terms of preparation, vital growth times, care and tending the garden, pictures to help explain answers to judges. While the judges will look at the project, it is not part of the competition judging marks. Projects can be digitally prepared or paper based.

The Link between Garden Competition and Agricultural Club

The score given is converted into accumulating points for the Agricultural Club award scheme. When set levels are reached, children are awarded badges ( 26points = Achievement Badge, then from 0 balance 16  points attains a Red Excellence Bar, then from 0 balance another 16 points attains a Green Excellence Bar)

Some children enter Agricultural Club pets at pets days and do garden judging in the same year(s). Only the highest converted points from one activity in any one year are used, not both so the rewards for Agricultural Club do take several years to attain.

Early in Term 4 an online entry form will be advertised here along with a date for judging.