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Peel Learning Garden

Bringing learning to life at RHS Garden Bridgewater, the Peel Learning Garden explores the idea of plants as machines

Interesting facts...

  • Garden ethos The garden aims to nurture curiosity about plants, gardening and the great outdoors
  • Design Competition winning design ‘Plant Factory’ was conceived by university students Stella Yang and Karsan Karavadra
  • School visits Bridgewater will welcome up to 7,000 school children a year
School pupils do some hands-on planting in wooden planters

Hands-on learning

Located within the Weston Walled Garden, the Peel Learning Garden is a hands-on outdoor learning space designed to spark enthusiasm for gardening and the outdoors in the next generation.

Two landscape architecture students, Stella Yang and Karsan Karavadra, from Manchester Metropolitan University, won a nationwide RHS competition to design the garden. Inspired by the idea of plants as machines, they conceived the ‘Plant Factory’.

“We selected this design for the Peel Learning Garden because it's flexible, playful, engaging and fits well with the national curriculum. It also links plants with local industrial heritage and reflects the different microclimates we have on site.”

Marcus Chilton-Jones, Curator, RHS Garden Bridgewater
Pockets of planting to represent different ecological zones

The nature of plants

Different ecological zones created within the Peel Learning Garden show how plants adapt to the challenges of each, from sunny and arid to shady and boggy. The garden demonstrates how the raw ingredients of light, nutrients, water and warmth are transformed into physical attributes such as leaves, stems, roots and aroma to create different types of plant.

Highlights include sensory and edible planting, as well as moveable planters that support different learning themes. A glasshouse provides space for exotic plants, practical activities and experimenting.
Exploring flowers and scent

Education programmes

Up to 7,000 local school children will visit RHS Garden Bridgewater each year and all the schools within a 50-mile radius of the garden that are active members of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening can benefit.

Young people can engage in activities that teach them how plants grow, growing to eat, biodiverse gardening, garden art, and the value of plants and gardens on people and the planet. The learning programmes have been developed by the team at Bridgewater and are supported by the RHS Education team as well as local volunteers.

Bridgewater School visits

“Many of our 600+ children love to just ‘be’ when surrounded by fabulous green space. I can’t wait for them to be able to experience a garden like Bridgewater, they often say they feel ‘more chilled’ whilst out gardening.”

Pat Smith, Teaching Assistant and Garden Coordinator, Cheetham C of E Community Academy, Manchester
Getting up close to bugs and plant life

Learning studios

Within the nearby Welcome Building, each of the two learning studios supports up to 40 people at a time to engage in practical workshops inspired by horticulture and its impact on our lives.

The learning spaces are also home to a variety of courses and workshops for adults. Local audiences and those from further afield are able to develop gardening skills with the help of horticultural experts and improve their wellbeing with inspiring arts and crafts workshops.

Can you help us inspire young people to learn about plants?

Your gift could help us to create features in the Peel Learning Garden or buy screens, chairs, cupboards, tables, audio visual equipment and create the classrooms for this important learning programme. 

Donate now

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.