Press release -
Three local schools win ‘best in show’ at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2025
Three unique wheelbarrow displays designed by Birmingham-based school children were awarded ‘Best in Show’ at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live.
Balsall Common Primary School and Fox Hollies SEN School were voted the Primary and Secondary school winners of Health for Life®’s annual wheelbarrow competition, on the theme of ‘Food and Climate Mitigation’, by an esteemed panel of gardening expert judges at the event.
The winning primary school wheelbarrow, designed by Balsall Common Primary School and named ‘Forage for Health’, featured plants foraged by a team of children from in and around the school’s grounds, including wild garlic and wild strawberries.
Fox Hollies SEN School impressed the judges in the secondary school category, with their ‘Vegan Pizza’ wheelbarrow, designed using plant-based ingredients to create a delicious meal without any animal products.
Meanwhile, St James’ Catholic Primary School in Rednal won the public over with its ‘Garden of Hope’ wheelbarrow, featuring plants and flowers that pollinators love, including delphinium, freesias and cornflowers.
A record 19,800 votes were cast throughout BBC Gardeners’ World Live for the public vote, and visitors to the show enjoyed a total of 47 different wheelbarrow displays.
The annual wheelbarrow contest is a feature of Health for Life, an award-winning, evidence-based partnership programme which promotes fun activities that engage people in growing food, physical activity, healthy eating and cookery. Funded by Mondelēz International, since 2011, it is delivered through schools and to the wider community in Birmingham by The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and Services For Education.
Tom Allport, Assistant Head Teacher at Fox Hollies SEN School, commented: “We’re so pleased to hear the fantastic news that our students won this year’s wheelbarrow competition, what an amazing achievement! Our students are so proud to see their hard work recognised, and we look forward to taking part again in the future.”
Kelly Farrell, Community Affairs Manager at Mondelēz International, said: “It’s been another fantastic year for Health for Life’s annual school wheelbarrow competition, with some truly incredible entries.
“We loved seeing the creativity and consideration all the participating schools put into their designs, and we’d like to express our congratulations to this year’s deserving winners!”
For more information about Health for Life, visit www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/health-for-life/
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About Mondelēz International:
Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. With 2024 net revenues of approximately $36.4 billion, Mondelēz International is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as Oreo, belVita and LU biscuits; Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate; and Sour Patch Kids candy. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor’s 500, Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/MDLZ.
About Health for Life®
- Health for Life is an evidence-based programme supporting children and adults in Birmingham to live healthier lifestyles by engaging people in growing food, physical activity, healthy eating and cookery.
- Health for Life was introduced in 2011, funded by Mondelēz International with an investment of £5.2 million to date, and delivered in schools by Services For Education and in the community by The Conservation Volunteers (TCV).
- · The programme has now engaged 229 Birmingham schools comprising 185 primary, 26 nursery and 18 secondary schools benefitting 81,600 pupils. It has also involved around 185,000 adults in the city including teachers, parents and community members, with a total reach of around 266,600 people.
- Over 1,440 Mondelēz International employee volunteers have given practical support to programme schools and community spaces.
- Health for Life has developed 20 community food growing spaces and continues to deliver Green Gym activities in seven locations.
- The programme has received national acclaim, receiving the Food and Drinks Federation Health and Wellbeing Award; Business in the Community’s ‘Big Tick’ and awards for both the Health for Life show garden and separate schools’ wheelbarrow displays at BBC Gardeners’ World.
About Services For Education
Services For Education is a unique charity that uses the power of learning and of music to create and build confidence amongst children, young people and adults in communities across the West Midlands, delivering educational programmes to support the wider community to become the best people they can be, regardless of their background. The organisation is the delivery partner for Health for Life in primary schools®and has supported the programme since its launch in 2011.
For more information, visit https://www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/health-for-life/.
About TCV, The Conservation Volunteers
TCV works across the UK to create healthier and happier communities for everyone - communities where its activities have a lasting impact on people’s health, prospects and outdoor places. TCV does this by bringing people together to create, improve and care for green spaces. From local parks and community gardens to Local Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest; from school grounds and hospital grounds to waterways, wetlands and woodlands; connecting people to the green spaces that form a vital part of any healthy, happy community.
TCV is the delivery partner for Health for Life in the community® and, as part of the programme, delivers Green Gym® sessions which help people get active outdoors, improving their environment and growing their own fruit and vegetables for a healthier lifestyle.
For more information visit http://www.tcv.org.uk/midlands/health-for-life
Follow us on https://twitter.com/TCV_Birmingham or
