GREEN-fingered youngsters in Wilmslow are planning to bloom at the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park this weekend thanks to some help from flour rather than flower experts at a Northwich bakery.

A ground force team of volunteers from Northwich-based Roberts Bakery have been working with the talented pupils to put the finishing touches to what they hope will be a winning garden at this year’s national event.

Wilmslow High School students have designed their own ‘front to front’ garden, growing plants and creating imaginative artwork based on the theme of great British myths, legends and pastimes.

The Front to Front School Gardens Competition is sponsored this year, for the first time, by Roberts Bakery and organized by Winsford Education Partnership, and there are 18 schools across the north west taking part.

Youngsters at Wilmslow High School will compete against children from four other secondary schools for the high schools trophy and Winsford-based Oaklands School is hoping that its rugby-inspired creation will earn it a place in the feature gardens contest.

Karol Roberts, from Roberts Bakery, and who is a keen gardener herself, said: “We are really pleased to sponsor this fabulous project, which is all about getting out into the community and making youngsters enthusiastic about gardening.

“The children have obviously put a lot of hard work into designing their outdoor schemes and it was fantastic to be involved in helping them to create these amazing gardens.”

Roberts Bakery’s Mike Roberts added: “This is a superb local event and we’re very proud to be part of it.

“We work alongside many schools up and down the region, so it’s very exciting for us to be involved in this terrific programme and engaging with even more children in our heartland.”

The schools garden’s scheme was started nine years ago by Oaklands School, as a small ‘back to back’ gardens project and, after joining forces with Winsford Education Partnership, it opened up competitions for primary and secondary schools.

Kevin Smith, from Winsford Education Project, said: “RHS Tatton is the only horticultural show that allows children on site to build their designed garden, so it’s a natural highlight for this project.

“These gardens are real works of art - they have inspired the design, planning and construction skills of the youngsters - and they should all be very proud of what they have achieved.”