The Royal Horticultural Society has announced that for the first time children will take on the role of judges at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Following the success of the inaugural Chelsea Children’s Picnic last year, local schools are once again being invited to the world’s most famous horticultural event, as the charity aims to make gardening more accessible to all. 72 children from nine London primary schools will participate as junior judges at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show to determine the winner of the all-new RHS Children’s Choice Award, with the winning garden unveiled on the opening day of the show.

The attending primary schools, chosen from a pool of applications, have all shown a passion for growing by providing pupils with gardening club sessions, opportunities to grow their own food, and exploring ways to encourage wildlife into their grounds. All schools are also members of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, which provides teachers with free resources, training and support to get more young people gardening. It is hoped that the experience at the show will bolster the children’s love of gardening and appreciation for nature, particularly as many of the pupils do not have easy access to a garden or green space at home.

After enjoying a picnic lunch the junior judges will set off in groups to assess the eight Show Gardens by each considering a series of questions including whether the garden is a good place to play, whether it is attractive to wildlife, and how the space makes them feel. The questions have been designed to celebrate the perspective of children and demonstrate the breadth of feelings that gardens can evoke. Once all the feedback is collated, one Show Garden will be awarded the RHS Children’s Choice Award 2024.

As well as judging the eight Show Gardens, the junior judges will also have the opportunity to visit the RHS No Adults Allowed Garden, designed by pupils from Sulivan Primary School in South West London, which reinforces the message that gardening is for everyone, regardless of age.

RHS Director General, Clare Matterson, said: “The decision to include children as judges at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show reflects our commitment to cultivating a lifelong passion for gardening. The RHS Children’s Choice Award champions the unique perspective of young people and highlights the importance of nurturing a connection between children and the natural world. As the world’s greatest gardening spectacle, RHS Chelsea is a feast for the senses, and I can’t wait to hear what our junior judges make of it.”

Children are front and centre stage at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show as the RHS No Adults Allowed Garden is the first in the event’s history to be designed by children, for children. In order to access the garden adults must pledge to do one of three things:

• Plant a Tree
• Donate to RHS Campaign for School Gardening to help give other children access to nature
• Find a flower that starts with the first letter of their name

Adults who have pledged will receive one of the children’s designed “access stickers”, granting them entry to the garden.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show, sponsored by The Newt in Somerset, runs from 21 to 25 May 2024 at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, for more information and to buy tickets visit rhs.org.uk/chelsea