RHS Chelsea: There's a new addition to the judging process...
In a first for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, children will judge the Show Gardens to determine the winner of an all-new RHS Children's Choice Award.
The judging process at any RHS Show is a rigorous one, in which a group of esteemed judges from the horticultural world follow a strict point-scoring criteria to award Gold, Silver-Gilt, Silver and Bronze medals, plus the Best in Show accolade, to the participating garden designers. Although arguably, it's the People's Choice Award (which rounds off the week and is voted for by the public), which is perhaps the most coveted.
But there's a new addition for RHS Chelsea 2024, which reinforces the message that gardening is for everyone, regardless of age. Some 72 children from nine London primary schools will participate as junior judges at this year’s show. The junior judges will decide the winner of the new Children’s Choice Award, with the winning garden unveiled on the opening day of the show.
The junior judges will set off in groups to assess the eight Show Gardens. There will be a set of questions that they will base their verdict on, including whether the garden is a good place to play, if it is attractive to wildlife, and how the space makes them feel. Once all the feedback is collated, one Show Garden will be awarded the RHS Children's Choice Award 2024.
The participating primary schools, chosen from a pool of applications, have all shown a passion for gardening. All schools are also members of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, which provides teachers with free resources, training and support.
'The decision to include children as judges at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show reflects our commitment to cultivating a lifelong passion for gardening. The RHS Children’s Choice Award champions the unique perspective of young people and highlights the importance of nurturing a connection between children and the natural world,' says RHS director general Clare Matterson. 'As the world’s greatest gardening spectacle, RHS Chelsea is a feast for the senses, and I can’t wait to hear what our junior judges make of it.'
The news follows the success of the inaugural Chelsea Children's Picnic last year where Kate Middleton joined 100 schoolchildren on the grounds. The RHS aims to make gardening more accessible to all and to bolster children's love of gardening and appreciation for nature, particularly for those pupils who do not have easy access to a garden or green space at home.
Children are front and centre stage at this year’s RHS Chelsea, as the RHS No Adults Allowed Garden, designed by pupils from Sulivan Primary School in Fulham, south-west London, is the first in the event’s history to be designed by children, for children. And there are strict rules in place if adults would like to enter the garden. They must pledge to do one of three things before being given an 'access sticker' granting entry:
Plant a tree
Donate to RHS Campaign for School Gardening to help give other children access to nature
Find a flower that starts with the first letter of their name.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, sponsored by The Newt in Somerset, takes place 21st-25th May 2024. Visit rhs.org.uk for tickets.
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