BUDDING garden designers from a North Ayrshire school for children with additional support needs have been recognised in a national competition.

Pupils from Lockhart Campus ASN in Stevenston have been awarded a Certificate of Recognition in the seventh annual Pocket Garden Design Competition, run by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB).

Inspired by ‘The Secret Garden’, Lockhart pupils came up with a multi-tiered design with a crowning tree of life, which keeps everything in the garden alive.

It features a waterfall powered by a solar panel, a filtration system made from a recycled hula hoop, which waters a wildflower meadow for bees. The bottom tier is a mushroom stumpery and wormery.

This year 340 entries were received from across Scotland.

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Of these, 45 won a place in a digital showcase and only eight - including Lockhart Campus - were awarded a Certificate of Recognition.

Schools developed environmentally friendly designs for a tiny garden telling a story, reflecting the themes of the 2022 Year of Stories, One Planet Picnic and Wildlife Gardening.

Children, from as young as three, were challenged to design a colourful and sustainable garden.

Nicola Davidson, education and learning officer for KSB, said: “I would like to say a huge congratulations to Lockhart Campus ASN for achieving a Certificate of Recognition in this year’s competition.

“The pupils worked so hard to design and grow a pocket garden telling a unique story.”