Students from a local school who have taken part in the Farnham in Bloom schools’ hanging basket competition have turned their newly acquired gardening skills into a business opportunity.

Staff from Farnham Town Council’s outside workforce visited The Abbey School to show the students how to plant up the perfect hanging basket. Having planted baskets to enter into the competition and for display in Central car park, the year 10 and 11 Business Enterprise students went on to plant a further 30+ baskets. These will now be advertised and sold by the students.

Councillor Stephen Hill, Lead Member for Community Enhancement says: “We were delighted to be able to help the students make a successful business. Selling hanging baskets was a very good idea and has provided the students with a real-life insight into what is involved in running a business.”

Altogether, children from 16 local schools and nurseries have taken part in this year’s schools’ hanging basket competition, which is now in its tenth year. Under guidance from Farnham Town Council’s gardening experts, Farnham’s young people have made over 80 hanging baskets.

Councillor Hill says: “The children had a wonderful time planting their hanging baskets. We are displaying one basket from each school and nursery in Central car park – every basket will have a plaque, so the children can proudly show their family which basket they helped to plant.”

To inspire the next generation of gardeners, Farnham Town Council runs a number of competitions for local schools including the scarecrow competition, largest pumpkin, tallest sunflower and flower in a boot.

Entries into this year’s scarecrow competition will be on display in the Lion and Lamb Yard from early July so they are ready to meet the In Bloom judges on 10 and 11 July.

Nineteen schools and nurseries have entered this year’s competitions. To say ‘thank you’ for contributing to Farnham in Bloom, the children will be invited to an awards ceremony in October at Squire’s Garden Centre.

The range of competitions is made possible by support from local businesses including Specsavers in Farnham who is this year’s Corporate sponsor.