Whitgift took part in the London in Bloom – Sow, Grow and Know 2014 competition. Out of 28 participating schools, Whitgift was delighted to win a gold certificate, and be crowned overall winner.
The criteria by which the gardens where judged were extremely stringent, with categories including ‘sustainability’ and ‘use of grounds for school curriculum’. After a long and detailed tour of the School’s grounds, the judges proclaimed that the ‘horticulture and groundsmanship is of an exceptional high quality’, and that ‘Whitgift School is one of the jewels in the crown of Croydon, London and the South East’ – high praise indeed.
Congratulations are due to Head Groundsman, Stuart Webber; Head Gardener, Sophie Tatzkow; and their dedicated teams, who work tirelessly throughout the year, come rain or shine.
Head Gardener, Sophie, commented, “There has been a lot of development over the past year and a half, with the creation of the new boarding house garden, and renovations around the sports pitches. Everyone in the team is extremely happy to have gained the highest score in our first year of taking part.”
London in Bloom have already asked the School to take part next year, and further competitions being entered into in 2015 are the IOG Souters ‘School, College, University, or Sports Club Grounds Team of the Year’, and the ecological-orientated Green Flag award. The School’s gardens will be on show in June 2015 for a National Gardens Scheme open day (7 June), and the London Open Garden Square Weekend (14-15 June).