Huntingdon Academy was awarded first prize for the Ian Coates Memorial Garden in the Young Gardener category at the Nottingham City Best Gardener Awards.
The school designed and created the garden in memory of Mr Coates, whose dedication and positive spirit left a lasting impact on the academy’s pupils and staff, and the wider community..
Pupils and staff collaborated with local community gardening group Potty Plotters to create a special space that reflects his spirit of care and togetherness, and celebrates his life. Together, they have transformed the garden into a beautiful place for reflection, learning and shared pride.
This award highlights the importance of pupil-led projects that combine learning and community engagement. It stands as a testament to the ways schools across L.E.A.D. Academy Trust inspire students to take initiative, develop skills and make a positive difference.
“We are incredibly proud of our pupils and staff for this achievement. Ian was such a special colleague and friend, and we wanted to create a lasting and fitting tribute to him. The Ian Coates Memorial Garden embodies the care, positive spirit and strong sense of community that summed up Ian. Winning this award is a wonderful recognition of the dedication, creativity and teamwork that went into making it a reality, and I am sure Ian would have been very proud of the pupils and staff.”
