A SCHOOL in Ealing for pupils with autism has been named RHS School Gardening Team of the Year.

It’s one of the top three awards in this year’s Royal Horticultural Society School Gardeners of the Year competition.

The winning team from Springhallow School, aged 12-16, have created a beautiful and productive garden from scratch, challenging themselves to try new foods and supplying edible flowers to a new school café.

Gardening has also helped boost the nine-strong team’s confidence, social and communication skills.

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Now in its eighth year, the national competition supported by historic greenhouse manufacturer Hartley Botanic, celebrates the positive difference that gardening can make to young people’s lives.

Springhallow School in Cavendish Avenue will take delivery of a Hartley Botanic greenhouse worth up to £10,000.

Other prizes include £500 worth of National Garden gift vouchers and tickets to RHS flower shows. BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Frances Tophill will also spend a day with the team in their garden.