Squire’s Garden Centres joined forces with the Environment Agency to invite local school children to design a planting scheme for a flowerbed at Teddington lock.
On Tuesday 17th July, the competition winner – Joseph, aged 8, from St Mary’s Church of England School in Twickenham – planted the final plant in the flower bed at Teddington lock and saw his design come to life.
Over 230 children from six schools within a 2.5 mile radius of Teddington Lock took part in the competition. The children were given a template of the circular flowerbed, which has a sundial in the middle, and were invited to suggest colours and patterns that could be planted up. Squire’s then provided the plants to enable the bed to be planted in the winning design.
Sarah Squire, Deputy Chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres, said: “This was a lovely competition and we really enjoyed seeing all the wonderful designs created by the children. It was very difficult to choose a winner but Joseph’s design was the one we felt would best suit the flowerbed. It was bright, cheerful and just right to be interpreted in colourful bedding plants. We hope that visitors to the lock will enjoy the planting scheme all summer long.”
The winners were announced at a prize giving held at Squire’s Garden Centre, Twickenham on 5 July. The prizes were presented by Matt Carter, The Harbourmaster for the River Thames, and Sarah Squire, Deputy Chairman, Squire’s Garden Centres. The judges criteria was for a striking design that would look good all summer long and be achievable in the space. Joseph won with his interpretation of the colour wheel with each colour blending into the next in an informal wavy pattern.
Each participating school received £25 of Squire’s gift vouchers.
For a number of years Squire’s has provided the bedding plants for the locks along the Thames from Teddington to Marlow.
Mick Wheatley, the Environment Agency’s Commercial Operations Manager for the River Thames, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Squire’s again this year. Our lock sites are cherished by their communities and the thousands of visitors they attract each year support local economies. Their well-kept gardens and floral displays are a quintessential element of their charm, which Squire’s are helping us to preserve.”
Planting of the Squire’s bedding plants was completed on 17th July and can be seen by visiting each lock. The colour theme for each lock is different and all are bright and colourful. The bedding plants chosen include Geranium, Petunia, Fuchsia, Alyssum, Lobelia, Salvia, Dahlia and Verbena amongst others. For more information about access to the locks see: http://www.visitthames.co.uk/about-the-river/river-thames-locks.