The Trust is keen to encourage local community groups and schools.
Education & Communities News
2026 Brooksby Award
The Gardens Trust is delighted to present this year’s Brooksby Award of £150 to Tasnim Lafrontiere for her outstanding progress on the BTech Level 2 Technical Diploma in Horticulture 2026. Tasnim developed her love of horticulture at home with her mother, where she works both in the garden and on an allotment. She has excelled in every aspect of her course, from practical hands-on skills working with plants and equipment, to a very high standard…
Leicestershire and Rutland Gardens Trust Brooksby Award 2025
The Gardens Trust is delighted to present this year’s award to Brooksby student, Tom Ashworth.Tom, who is incredibly passionate about horticulture, is employed by Leicester City Council and has been studying on the College’s Apprenticeship programme as a day release student. He is expected to complete the course three months early as a result of his hard work and dedication to his learning.He will receive a bursary of £150 which he is planning to…
Leicestershire and Rutland Gardens Trust Brooksby Award 2024
L to R: Sue Blaxland (Gardens Trust), Michelle Thom (Brooksby Lecturer for Apprenticeship Programme) Connor Thompson (student award recipient) Connor Thompson is this year’s recipient of the Gardens Trust Brooksby Award. Connor, who is an apprentice with Leicester City Council’s Parks and Gardens Team, attends College on day release and has made exceptional progress on his horticulture course. He plans to spend his £150 Award on top quality gardening tools to use at work: secateurs…
2023 St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Loughborough visit to the Botanical Gardens
Make and eat your own fruit kebab – by far the most popular activity! Discovering new foods in the tropical greenhouse Searching for pond life – all pupils showing a keen interest Extract from the thank you letter from Priscilla Jordan, Head Teacher “Thank you to all who were involved in the trip.The year 5 class had a brilliant day and I am very grateful for the opportunities it gave them“ It was a splendid…
2023 Brooksby Melton College Horticultural Award
Ben Freeston Silva is this year’s recipient of the Trust’s Brooksby Student Award. This £100 bursary is given to the student who has made the most progress on their course and has shown dedication and determination to succeed. Ben first discovered that he enjoyed gardening when he went on a week’s work experience in Evington Park, Leicester. It was on the recommendation of a friend that he applied to Brooksby Melton College. He has now…
Netherhall Special School project update
The willow arch at Netherhall School, partly-funded by the Leicestershire and Rutland Gardens Trust, has now been planted. Steve Pickup, of The Willowbank Company, who installed the willow domes which are already on site, returned to plant the willow arch. Jane Hauton, the teacher in charge of the project, said “Steve planted in torrential rain, which was excellent service”. The willow arch provides another sensory experience for the students, and is an extension of the…
Netherhall School project update
These photos show the preparation for the planting of the first row of willow for the willow arch at Netherhall School. See background to this project here.
Visit to Netherhall Special School.
Netherhall is a special school catering for around 120 pupils from age 4 to 19, who have severe/profound/multiple learning difficulties. Over the last 4 years, Jane Hauton, the teacher in charge, has led a project to create an outdoor learning space on a field adjacent to the school. There are many things going on in different parts of this space, including five tree areas, two wildflower meadows, and many different wildlife habitats. There is a…
Completed Sensory Garden at Millgate School
7 July 2022 Dear Leicestershire and Rutland Gardens Trust I am writing to you to offer our sincere thanks for your support in our recent Sensory Garden project at Millgate School. The project is now complete, and we would not have been able to get to this point without your support. We have transformed what was once an empty area of mud into a garden, with five flower beds, two small ponds and a seating…