BUDDING talent from Winsford’s schools dug out some top awards at this year’s RHS Flower Show, Tatton Park.

Primary and high school students were given £300 to develop a 3x3 metre plots with a children’s TV programme theme.

Oaklands scooped first prize in the Front to Front garden competition with their Dr Who green space.

The garden featuring a floral display among the dreaded Darleks, which were made from vegetables and incorporated bird feeders into their weaponry.

Grange School fixed second place with their Bob the Builder-inspired creation, while Darnhall were given a highly commended for their Flintstones theme.

Greenfields, Over Hall, St Joseph’s and the E-Act academy all achieved distinctions for their gardens: Bill and Ben, The Herbs, Thomas the Tank Engine and Worzel Gummidge, respectively.

Kevin Smith, from the Winsford Education Partnership, has helped the town’s schools blossom into some of the strongest competitors in the flower show over the last six years.

“What the kids get out of it is fantastic. I started doing it with Oaklands School, and it’s just grown from there,” he explained.

“This year there was incredibly stiff competition. There were 21 schools with all sorts of gardens - from Bagpus to the Wombles.

“For Winsford, it’s brilliant. There have been some stunning entries. Last year, there were some highly commended gardens, but this year most have been given distinctions. The standard has been very high. Winsford has done really well.”

Schools are given a top limit of £300, which they have to raise themselves.

“It feeds into all areas of their curriculum,” said Kevin. “You’ve got the horticultural side of it and you’ve got the science aspect, learning about the plants. There’s the design and artistic side of the gardens and the maths of purchasing the things they need. Then there’s the teamwork; the coming together and building these creations.”

He added: “The sheer excitement of over 150 children building their gardens over two days is just incredible. The smile on their faces; every bit of it is owned by them. It’s just lovely.”