Twelve schools took part in this year's Witney Schools in Bloom Challenge, which encouraged youngsters to get involved with improving their environment.
Each school was briefed with the task of making their school greener, taking into consideration the landscaping, fruit and vegetable production, biodiversity, conservation and presentation.
Each participating school was given £350 at Easter to spend on buying plants, seeds or props at a garden centres in the area. The judges, town council amenities manager Janine Howells, councillors Chrissie Curry and Jim King, and rotarians Francis Newenham and George Bennett visited the schools and scored them according to the Britain in Bloom criteria.
Cllr Harry Eaglestone, Mayor of Witney, presented certificates and trophies to winning schools for different categories. He said: “Once again Schools in Bloom has proved a resounding success. This year for the first time all the schools achieved gold standard, from the tiniest infants to the students at senior level.
“The awards are just the icing on the cake and go a little way to rewarding them for all their hard work. They get a huge amount of pleasure from creating and tending these gardens and the knowledge they display is phenomenal. It was lovely to see them all here today. It's a fantastic event in Witney Town Council's calendar and one that we look forward to every year.”
The overall cup prize went to St Mary's Infant School, the best environmental project award went to Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, the best fruit and vegetable production award went to Kings School, and the judges' special award went to Springfield Senior School.
This year, the schools put a particular emphasis on using recyclable products in their designs, such as building a greenhouse out of plastic bottles, making bug hotels and milk carton planters.
Polly Inness, Witney Town Council communications officer, said: “The thing that stands out for all of us is the enjoyment had by both staff and pupils involved. Many modern houses have little or no space to grow fruit and veg but children are learning ways of managing these small spaces in school and implementing some amazing solutions for growing things at home too.”
