SCHOOLCHILDREN impressed top horticultural judges to win gold at a prestigious gardening festival.  

Sandside Lodge School, of Ulverston and Dane Ghyll Primary School, of Barrow, both received Gold awards with their 'Gardening Through the Generations' show gardens on the opening day of the festival.

Sandside also went on to lift the Best Children’s Show Garden Trophy in Holker Garden Festival children's competition, run in association with the North-West Evening Mail, Crooklands of Dalton and The Builders Supply Company. 

Both finalists had the honour of transforming their designs into actual show gardens, which will be viewed by thousands if visitors this weekend. They were also very pleased to receive gardening voucher prizes from sponsor, Crooklands of Dalton.

Sandside produced the ‘Memory Garden Through the Generations’. 

The garden featured a backdrop of a hands collage and garden sections representing the stages of plant life from seed, seedling and young plants, to mature planting, all around a bird feeder.

Dane Ghyll's garden design is titled ‘Gardening Across the Reign’. 

It shows how gardening has changed through the years from when the Queen was born, up to the present day and celebrating her 90th birthday. 

Show president, Lucy Cavendish, said the school's competition is very exciting and very important to the festival and she congratulated the children on their wonderful work.

A team of judges from The Guild of Horticultural Judges, who have recently been judging at Chelsea Flower Show also congratulated the children.

Rae Beckwith, of the judging team said the best in show prize had been very close, he said: "They are two very, very different gardens. Both got a gold medal. We appreciate everyone coming along, the involvement is absolutely stunning." 

Liam Toal, 15, of the Sandside pupil gardeners said: "I'm happy and excited. My favourite bit is the allotment. I like planting seeds at gardening club."   

Sarah Walduck, a higher level teaching assistant at Sandside who leads gardening club, said: "We are ecstatic. It's just amazing.

Dane Ghyll's garden is brilliant too.

"Gardening is very important at school. We use what we grow in food technology, we also make chutneys.    

Louise Postlethwaite, the school gardening volunteer who works with Dane Ghyll's pupils, said: "It's absolutely brilliant. The children have worked so hard." 

Mrs Postlethwaite congratulated Sandside on their excellent garden.