Hammersmith Academy students were selected to showcase their wildlife-friendly bug barrel at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival on Monday, 1st July 2024.

Students entered the RHS Bug Barrels Challenge by designing a barrel to attract insects and encourage biodiversity. Over the course of two months students collaborated with Hammersmith Community Gardens Association to design, build, and plant their unique barrel garden. It included insect homes, nectar rich plants and a little water feature.

The RHS was impressed with the Academy’s entry and selected their barrel to be part of a display to educate visitors at the show on the importance of developing and sustaining healthy ecosystems in our gardens and outdoor spaces in order to protect the UK’s biodiversity.

This was the first time students had visited the show and they explored the festival’s stunning gardens and exhibitors. They met several celebrities, including renowned gardener and TV presenter Arit Anderson, who praised their barrel design.

Hammersmith Academy’s Headteacher, Gary Kynaston, said of their achievements, “It’s been incredibly rewarding to see our students engage so passionately with this project. Their bug barrel is not only beautiful but also serves an important ecological purpose. The recognition they received at the RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival is well-deserved.”

The students’ participation at the RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival is a continuation of the Academy’s commitment to gardening and sustainability. Students have previously been crowned RHS School Gardening Team of the Year, Cultivation Street’s School Garden Award and Global Action Plan’s Sustainability School of the Year.