BUDDING young gardeners were among the winners at this year’s Northumbria in Bloom awards.

Children from St Peter’s CE Primary School in Brotton, east Cleveland, were overall winners of the Growing Together for Schools category and Westgarth Primary in Marske won a Gold Award in the same category.

Young members of St Peter’s CE School’s after-school gardening group, The Flowerpot Club, and the Eco Team received the trophy at the awards in Gateshead.

Headteacher Richard Unthank said: “We are delighted to have been nominated for this award for the first time. It acknowledges the great effort of staff, children, parents and governors on creating such a wonderful outside learning environment for our pupils.”

Stanghow, east Cleveland, was the overall winners in the Best Small Village category and will go forward to represent Northumbria in the Britain in Bloom Awards and in Moorsholm, winners in the Best Village.

Headteacher of Westgarth Primary, Jackie Woodhead, said: “We are delighted to have received a prestigious award, recognising the enthusiasm and hard work of children and staff across school in developing and maintaining a fantastic outdoor environment, of which we are very proud.”

Other victors at the award ceremony at the Lancastrian Suite Conferencing Centre in Gateshead included the teams at Marske who won the Silver Gilt Award in the Best Town competition and Grangetown who received Bronze for the Best Small Town.