BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Frances Tophill visited pupils at Hammersmith Academy, who are the winning team in the Royal Horticultural Society’s School Gardeners of the Year 2017 competition. The young gardeners have transformed the paved playground into a green oasis and spent time planting new gardens in the community to support local biodiversity.

Hammersmith Academy’s award winning team met with Frances and delegates from the RHS to launch the RHS School Gardeners of the Year 2018 competition. The competition is open to all schools and they are looking to find an aspiring young team once again.

Head teacher, Mr Kynaston, said “What our young gardening team has achieved is phenomenal. They have turned what was a concrete space into a beautiful garden which attracts both people and wildlife. We are so proud of what they have achieved in a short time and that it has been recognised by the RHS.”

(photo credit: RHS/Julian Weigall)