The innovative ‘Heritage Horticulture’ initiative led by Jenna Sabine of Monkton Arts, saw local Year 5 schoolchildren from Greenmount, Oakfield, St. Helen’s, Dover Park and St Mary’s schools entering a competition to design the planting of six Ryde seafront flower beds at Eastern Gardens, adjacent Ryde Pavilion.
To beat Covid restrictions, Jenna provided a remote video lesson and resources to each school. After learning about Victorian Ryde, the Plant Hunters who travelled the world and the history of flower beds, the children were asked to create pixelated designs for the beds, based on themes chosen from the continents of the world.
Winning designs planted up
The winning design from each class has now been planted up by the John ‘O‘ Conner team, landscape management contractors working for the Isle of Wight Council. The winners and runners up were invited to an award giving ceremony on 15th June, which also marked the opening of the exhibition of design winners in the Monkton Arts Sara K children’s gallery running from 15th-27th June.
The winners from each school were:
- Dover Park – Europe – Harry G – IOW design
- St. Mary’s – Australia – Jacob G – Fish design
- Greenmount Hockney – Asia – Jonathan – Snake design
- Greenmount Aires – Africa – Jaidan – Sunset design
- St Helens – America – Sam – Cactus design
- Oakfield – Africa – Nina – Giraffe design
Trip to Osborne House
The winners and runners up will also be invited to Osborne House to see Queen Victoria’s favourite home and magnificent gardens, providing an educational day out with their parents in the summer holidays.
Children incredibly engaged and excited to take part
Mr Evens, Year 5 class teacher from Greenmount Primary School, Ryde, said,
“Both classes thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the ‘Heritage Horticulture’ project. From the start, all the children were incredibly engaged and excited to take part in a scheme that they would be able to go and see once it was completed. The children were fascinated by the history of plants and the links to Darwin and Osborne House.
“During the activity, both classes were given an opportunity to learn about different countries and cultures. They were then able to analyse the different colours/themes from their continent before applying this knowledge to create a pattern.
“When creating their flower bed designs, they were taking their time and making thoughtful decisions about what colours/patterns would work best for their project. The children couldn’t wait to find out who won, and they are so excited about seeing the winners design after it’s been planted.”
The ‘Heritage Horticulture’ schools competition is part of the ‘Railway Gardens’ scheme, this being one of the pilot projects associated with Island Line’s Community Rail Partnership’s proposed ‘Down the Line’ initiative.
News shared by Jenna on behalf of Monkton Arts. Ed
