THE judging is over and the winners have been announced for Witney Schools in Bloom.

After months of hard work building bug hotels and plant pots, planting and watering, youngsters across the town are celebrating their achievement.

It has been the best year ever for results, with all 12 schools receiving the gold award – the highest possible standard.

But there had to be a winner, and this year the top award went to St Mary’s Infant School in Church Green.

From April, the entire school banded together to make flower pots out of bottles, decorate fences and bring to life their tiny garden.

Willa Merttens, six, said: “We did it together – the teachers told us what to do and we tried to do it the best we could.

“We’ve worked hard, nearly every day, and I enjoyed it.

“The best thing was painting bottles. I’m pleased we won and hope I can do it next year.”

Foundation stage teacher Amanda Bennett, who helped organise the project, said: “We are all absolutely thrilled and honoured to have won.

“We make it a whole school effort so all the children are doing things – even the little four and five-year-olds were helping, planting vegetables and watering.”

She added: “As a staff, we are enthusiastic about gardening and about the children learning and working together through the garden.”

Our Lady Of Lourdes Primary School, in Curbridge Road, won Best Environmental Project for pupils’ bug hotel.

Parents donated unwanted crates, flower pots and tiles to build a home for bugs so the children can learn about the creepy crawlies.

The garden also recycled household objects to use as plant pots, including a kitchen sink and a toilet.

Foundation stage teacher Beth Lumb, who helped organise the garden, said: “The children were over the moon when they heard. They are so motivated and so excited about growing and seeing food being produced in the school.”

Secondary school students at Springfield School, a special school in Woodstock Road, received the most improved garden award.

Teaching assistant Linda Creighton, who organised the project, said: “I was extremely impressed by the children. It is incredible when you see what they can achieve.”

The event is organised by Witney Town Councillor, which provided grants to the schools to build the gardens.

Chief judge Chrissie Curry, who is chairman of the council’s leisure and recreation committee, said: “The standard has leapt up by such a great degree and they have done so well. It is brilliant.

“The point difference between all the schools was so small. It was difficult to award the various different prizes.”

“St Mary’s is a tiny school – they have got no ground to speak of but the enthusiasm of the very little ones was overwhelming.”

The winners will receive their awards at the Langdale Hall, Langdale Gate, from 1.15pm today.