Penwortham in Bloom - Through to finals

Gardener Mr Farron is making Penwortham Priory Academy bloom – and we hope to be up for more awards.

Priory has won Penwortham in Bloom titles in the past and also collected the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom North West Environmental Award for Schools in 2016 – the first time a school in Lancashire had won the title.

And now green-fingered Mr Farron is hoping for more flowering success after a visit from the Penwortham in Bloom judges last week followed by a further visit from the Mayor of South Ribble, Councillor John Rainsbury, on Tuesday.

Mr Farron began working with Priory on a part-time basis after he retired a few years ago and he has transformed the gardens around the school – and got several budding horticulture students wanting to help him.

“The main thing for me is the interest the students have shown,” said Mr Farron. “We have transformed what were muddy and unused parts of the school into areas brimming with a range of flowers and plants and the students have mentioned the smells.

“I get students, parents and grandparents bringing in plants and asking about them and wanting to know more about what I am doing which is an added bonus.”

Mr Farron has worked hard for Penwortham in Bloom, hoping to add another title to his growing list. The theme for schools this year was ‘Coming of Peace’ to mark the end of World War One one hundred years ago.

“I have made a Peace Garden with the initials PP in it. Many think PP stands for Proud Preston but it actually is Latin ‘Princeps Pacis’ which means Prince of Peace. But it can stand for Proud Preston or Proud Priory or Proud Penwortham so it can have a number of different meanings.

Mr Farron also has a herb and food garden where he provides Priory’s Food Technology teacher Miss Lewis-Lavender with items which she used to cater for the judges and the mayor.

“Miss Lewis-Lavender made lavender cakes and put sugared rose petals on the cup-cakes all from our gardens so everything has its purpose,” added Mr Farron.

On the judging days a small group of pupils volunteered to support the school’s entry in a number of ways.  Olivia, Brook, Leah and Danielle put on a beautiful display of hospitality supported by Miss Lewis-Lavender, Year 7 pupil James read a reading from John McCrae’s WWI poem, Flanders Fields, and Alfie supported with the gardening which I’m sure added to the judges’ overall experience. 

Without a doubt the judges were surely impressed by the pupils and both Headteacher Mr Eastham and Mr Farron have thanked them for their support and professionalism on the day. 

Winners will be announced on Tuesday, 21 August at Penwortham Community Centre.