Our Students Blossom at RHS Green Shoots Taster Days!
This March, groups of our Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils took part in the RHS Green Shoots Taster Days, an inspiring opportunity designed to introduce young people to horticulture, environmental careers and hands-on outdoor learning.
The day began with careers focused tours of the RHS gardens, including special behind the scenes access to areas that visitors rarely get to see. Pupils learned about the many roles involved in designing, maintaining and managing large public gardens, and explored the science and creativity that underpin horticulture.
During the afternoon, pupils took part in a practical outdoor session involving digging, weeding and planting. They worked with enthusiasm, teamwork and determination, even though the gardens offer very limited shelter and rain meant everyone had to be prepared for the weather. Luckily for us, the sun shone and it turned into a beautiful and enjoyable day for all!
There was also time at lunch to relax and explore the wider gardens and enjoy the woodland playground, giving pupils additional unstructured time in nature.
We are incredibly proud of how maturely and positively our students represented the school throughout the visit. Opportunities like this help build confidence, develop practical skills and broaden pupils’ understanding of future pathways in environmental, scientific and land-based careers.
What pupils enjoyed the most:
“ Seeing the Chinese Garden-it was amazing”
“The whole place was very peaceful”
“We had so much fun being outdoors”
What pupils learned about horticulture or careers:
“So many careers like mechanics and science-based jobs I never even thought about for gardening”
“There are lots of opportunities to volunteer and improve our job prospects for the future”
How pupils found the hands-on digging and planting session: