Academy team win best in show

The team had 24 hours to build their Titanic-themed garden from a design they had created for the competition. They were up against teams from six other secondary schools throughout Northern Ireland.

The school’s garden incorporated a white star within a yellow base to represent the White Star Alliance and Harland and Wolff cranes. A model of the Titanic was sunk within the garden and surrounded by blue flowers to create a sea effect. A special secret ingredient in the form of some honey bees were housed within the sinking ship to create a hive of activity.

The school receive a prize of a tree provided by CAFRE Greenmount College and a visit to the Belfast Titanic Experience for 30 pupils.

Speaking of their win teacher Mark Cordner said, “We are absolutely delighted and indeed humbled to win this years competition. It was a real team effort with staff, pupils and parents all working together to create something that reflected such an iconic theme in Titanic.

“I would like to congratulate all my team. My thanks to our principal for allowing the team last Thursday to prepare the garden and a huge debt of gratitude to Andrew Eakin of Mahon Garden Centre, Portadown for supplying the plants which looked beautiful and gave us the opportunity to work the theme around the centre piece.

“Team GreenFingers would also like to pay tribute to all the schools gardens- they were outstanding plots and the buzz of young people working together and enjoying seeing their visions being moulded from all things natural was simply superb.

“My thanks to Nuala, the sponsors and the wider general public who made the event such an enjoyable educational occasion.

“We look forward to next year already and hope that this Best in Show 2012 award will see our school club flourish and increase in size.”