Wimbledon Chase Primary School’s garden has been awarded joint first in the UK’s Best School Garden Category 2014 of the national ‘Top of the Plots’ competition, run by the Mirror newspaper.

The school won the prize for its World War One garden, which pupils grew and nurtured to commemorate the Frist World War centenary. The garden includes a trench, wildflowers and thousands of poppies.

This prestigious competition looks at all the best gardens in Britain and receives large quantities of entries each year from all over the country.

Creativity and enthusiasm has resulted in Wimbledon Chase Primary School receiving Best Olympic Themed garden in 2012, overall competition winners in 2013 and coming joint first in this year’s competition. Wimbledon Chase Primary School has excelled in this national competition over the past three years due to the support and determination of the whole school.

Dedicated volunteer, Tony Cullen, and committed teachers, Beverly Morgan, Ewa Bucior and Sam Wright helped to guide and educate the school pupils about growing their own vegetables and sustainable gardening.

Tony plays a key role in maintaining the school’s garden throughout the year. He runs the gardening club and makes sure the school’s hard work is maintained during school holidays too. In preparation for Halloween, pupils have grown pumpkins with the heaviest pumpkin weighing over 13 stone. They have also grown a variety of other vegetables.

Tony Cullen said: “I am pleased that the pupils’ hard work has been recognised. It is really pleasing to see so many children take an interest in gardening and gaining experience and enthusiasm for gardening that they can take with them as they grow up.”

Headteacher of Wimbledon Chase Sue Tomes said: “We are very proud of our garden. The work our pupils do to maintain it, with Tony’s guidance, is brilliant and the pumpkins they have grown are amazing. A local Indian restaurant in Morden took the 13 stone pumpkin, had it in pride of place in the restaurant for a week where it was greatly admired by all his customers, and then made it into a pumpkin curry which he brought into school for the children to eat. ”

Merton Council Leader, Councillor Stephen Alambritis said: “It is great news that Wimbledon Chase has received national recognition for its garden. The pupils have done a great job in helping to plant and maintain the garden.”

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