An Award-Winning Kids’ Garden at Chorley Flower Show

This year, we had the pleasure of working with a group of Year 5 pupils from Springfield Primary School in Sale to design and create a very special garden for the Chorley Flower Show - and they came away with gold as recognition for their hard work.

Working alongside their teachers and our very own Edward Doherty, the children spent several months designing and creating a border display inspired by Bee Movie, chosen within the ‘American Blockbuster Movies’ category brief.

The finished garden was on display at the show, held in the grounds of the stunning Astley Hall in Chorley, from Friday 31st July to Sunday 2nd August, where more than 14,000 visitors came to enjoy the gardens, displays and everything else the show had to offer.

From film inspiration to garden design

From the very beginning, the children were involved in developing the garden, helping to shape the concept and make decisions about its layout and planting.

The idea was to combine the fun and recognisable elements of Bee Movie with a garden that highlighted the important relationship between bees, people and the natural world.

And the students certainly got creative with it.

Tennis balls on stakes recreated one of Bee Movie's most notable scenes, while ten handwritten signs featured key phrases from the film. At the centre of the display was a honeycomb featuring the names of every child who helped design the garden, giving each student their own special place within the finished creation.

Another standout feature was a newspaper front page inspired by the end of the film, when the bees and humans join forces to launch their own business. It was a fun way to reflect the garden's wider message: when humans and bees work together, we can help create an environment where nature can flourish.

‘The children came up with some amazing ideas and really seemed to enjoy being the designers of their own garden at such a big show. From the early concept creation through to discussions around layout and plant choice, it was so lovely to see their passion for gardening and caring for wildlife shine through.’ - Edward Doherty (Offline Marketing Manager) J. Parker’s.

A party for pollinators

The planting was just as important as the film-inspired details.

Plants including Agastache, Verbena, Echinacea and Scabiosa brought plenty of colour to the display while providing a valuable source of food for pollinators. A bee bath was also included, giving visiting bees somewhere to drink, while fresh organic honey from a local bee producer in Sale, added another connection to the world of bees.

It was brilliant to see the planting attracting plenty of activity throughout the show, with bees buzzing around the flower heads and younger visitors enjoying the chance to see pollinators up close.

And their garden adventure doesn't end at the Chorley Flower Show.

Later this year, the garden will return to Springfield Primary School, where it will have a new home for the whole school to enjoy. The students will be able to see their creation growing at school, while future pupils can enjoy the garden and hopefully be inspired to get involved with gardening and wildlife too.

From a Year 5 classroom project to a gold-winning flower show garden, it's been a brilliant few months for the students - and a lovely reminder of just how much creativity, learning and fun can grow from getting children outdoors and into the garden.