YOUNG gardeners have been working hard on their show gardens for the RHS Malvern Spring Festival.

Pupils from Castlemorton CE Primary School and The Elms, Colwall, have started work on their gardens in the hope of winning the festival's school gardens challenge.

The RHS Malvern Spring Festival, which takes place from Thursday, May 8 until Sunday, May 11, is the only RHS Show in the UK to have a collection of show gardens designed and built entirely by schoolchildren.

This year, gardens are being created on the theme of a great moment in history.

Sue Verdeyen, education officer for the Three Counties Showground, said: “At RHS Malvern we are so proud to bring together pupils alongside professionals.

"The school gardens challenge is a wonderful way for children to take learning outside of the classroom and truly get their hands dirty.

“From conception to construction, these gardens are entirely led by the children.

"They have such broad imaginations and this really shows as their gardens come to life.

"We’re really looking forward to seeing the talent on display and no doubt it will be a tough competition."

Each garden will be judged for a certificate of commendation by a panel of horticultural experts the day before the RHS Malvern Spring Festival opens to the public.

The panel will include members of the RHS, the Three Counties Agricultural Society and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England.

For more information about the show, please visit threecounties.co.uk/springgardening