Join the Schools Bug Barrels challenge

Over the past 50 years, over two thirds of the UK’s insect, bird, mammal and amphibian population has been lost. We need your help to educate our visitors on the importance of developing and sustaining healthy ecosystems in our gardens and outdoor spaces in order to protect the UK's biodiversity. Involvement presents children with hands-on experience learning about gardening and biodiversity in the face of climate change.

Through their involvement, we hope to help develop the following skills and interests in children and young people.
 

• Horticulture
• Environmentally friendly gardening
• Gardening for native wildlife to support biodiversity
• Working as a team
• Kinetic learning and working to a brief

To achieve our biodiversity mission, children (up to 16 years) from schools, youth and community groups are invited to design and plant an upcycled oil drum, to be displayed at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival from Tuesday 1 July – Sunday 6 July 2025. Find out more about this year’s show in the factsheet.

Entries are welcome from all schools and youth groups (up to 16 years) from London, Surrey and the surrounding area.

To be eligible to enter, applicants must be registered with the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. Registration is quick, easy and free. If you’re not registered yet, you can do so here:
 

The theme for this year is Wonderland, a place that is full of exciting, interesting and wonderful things. We are looking for entries that are playful, creative and stimulate curiosity
 
Entries will not be formally judged but they are encouraged to be horticulturally correct. For example, if you design your barrel for pollinators, think carefully about the types of wildlife you want to support as this will help you to choose which plants to use.
 
Please make sure that you only take inspiration from materials that are out of copyright when exploring the theme.
 
 

Once you’ve got your design concept, planting list, concept drawing and prop or structure ideas ready, please submit your application form. Applications must be completed and received by Monday 3 March 2025. 

See last year’s barrels for inspiration.



 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Holly Ellis, Deputy Show Manager
 
[email protected]