A GARDEN designed by pupils at Parkside Middle School has won an award from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

The 10-week Garden Plan It Challenge saw more than 50 students, aged between 12 and 14, developing their own community garden with help from professional landscape architects.

Parkside's 3D creation, featuring raised vegetable beds, a water feature and nail sculpture representing Bromsgrove's heritage, was voted the favourite by fellow competitors, and students were presented with the society's Student Award for Garden Design.

It also included trees containing bird feeders and nest boxes, and an accessible path running through the garden, with a willow arch over the bridge.

The design was based on the island in Sanders Park, and students' ideas to make the area more attractive and useful, after they noticed undergrowth had recently been removed.

RHS head of community outreach Andrea Van-Sittart said: "The Green Plan It Challenge is designed to support young people to develop a host of new skills including teamwork, creativity and problem-solving, and, we hope to inspire some future Alan Titchmarshes and Monty Dons.

“All of the entries reveal an understanding of the important role that gardens can play both in terms of providing space to work and reflect and as a home for wildlife and the plants they rely on.

"We’d love to see some of these gardens come to fruition as we set about greening our grey Britain.”

Led by students, the Green Plan It Challenge encourages pupils to consider the benefits of communal green spaces and explore environmental issues.