A Renfrewshire pupil’s creative pocket garden design reached the national final of a competition ran by an environmental charity.
Pupils from Houston Primary School have been recognised for their creative Scottish design in the National Pocket Garden Design Competition, run by Keep Scotland Beautiful.
Earlier this year, the school won an award in the P5–S2 category for their garden design—The Scots Garden—which earned them a place in the final public vote. Their miniature garden was one of a select few showcased in an online exhibition from 13–23 June 2025, where the public were invited to vote for their favourite designs.
Although Houston Primary didn’t take the top prize, their garden was celebrated as one of the standout entries from more than 130 submissions across 18 local authority areas in Scotland.
John Jackson, a pupil at Houston Primary, was the creative eye behind the school’s winning design. He was inspired to use rocks, flowers, and recycled Irn Bru cans to represent Scotland’s landscape and cultural history.
He explained, “I chose this design because we are learning about Scots language and heritage. I thought it would be a good idea to represent Scotland in this way.”
Pupils Katharina Russell, Zoe Symington, and Ray Gilmour, part of the school’s Eco Committee, said they are proud of their school’s success.
Katharina said: “We are excited to be in the Eco Committee and help others in our school. We are so proud of John winning an award in the Pocket Garden competition and have had lots of fun bringing the garden to life.”
Andrew Patterson, the teacher who supported the students throughout the project, added: “I am delighted that one of our pupils has been awarded a top prize in the Pocket Garden competition.”
Councillor Emma Rodden, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Policy Board, said: “It’s fantastic to see young people in Renfrewshire gaining hands-on experience in design, gardening, and sustainability through projects like this.
“These are real-world skills that go beyond the traditional classroom and their success shows just how valuable this kind of learning can be.”
Now in its 10th year, the Pocket Garden Design Competition supports Keep Scotland Beautiful’s mission to help young people connect with nature, learn about sustainability, and explore their heritage. It adopts the UN’s goal for including Sustainable Development in education, offering pupils a creative way to develop knowledge of sustainability and environmental leadership skills.
Photo: John Jackson, Ray Gilmour, and Katharina Russell with their display
All photos: Photo Credit: Renfrewshire Council