HUNDREDS of schoolchildren across Worcestershire have taken up their pitchforks and trowels to create a beautiful garden for the Malvern Spring Festival.

Schools including Pitmaston Primary School in Worcester, Abberley Parochial VC Primary School and Castlemorton, Cradley and Malvern Wells primaries – have built Shakespeare-themed gardens to display at the Royal Horticultural Society’s annual Spring Festival.

They are among 11 Midlands schools competing in the competition, which was devised by Phil Eves of BAM Construction to help him teach construction skills to youngsters.

Mr Eves said the garden allowed him to teach construction concepts such as planning and health and safety in a real-life and interesting way.

This year's gardens have seen a Venice theme for Pitmaston, while Abberley's has a Romeo and Juliet balcony and Castlemorton's garden combines four of five of Shakespeare's plays.

Rae Luckett, a parent at Abberley Parochial VC Primary School, said: “The pupils have designed four plays into the garden. Romeo and Juliet, Henry Vth, Hamlet, and As You Like It.

“Years five and six had a crash course in the plays and chose their four favourites.

"We immersed them in child-friendly versions of his works, they discussed their thoughts on these and created what we are building for the show.

Mr Luckett has helped the pupils translate their ideas into a practical plan with numerous clever references inside the garden.

He said: “We have a series of French flowers for Henry V, and tennis balls to represent the cannonballs Henry threatened the French with.

"There are tools edged around the garden to represent the army who were drawn from the fields being farmers, trade and craftsmen.

“All of the pupils have made clay books, woodwork props, and designed a chair that Shakespeare might have sat on.

"The enthusiasm has been terrific and pupils are starting to recognise Shakespeare’s words in other contexts so the learning is evident.

“To top it all off they all got dressed up as Shakespearian characters for a Shakespeare day.”

Mr Eves said: “Pupils get to learn about construction, such as the planning and materials, older ones learn carpentry and bricklaying skills for example, and the younger ones do some painting and decorating.

“The schools and my company get involved too by volunteering, making it a great community exercise.

“Our apprentices help me out with technical aspects like electrical and power supplies.

"The enthusiasm is fantastic, we set them a theme every year which helps them combine two aspects of learning as Abberley are showing.

"The level of thought and skill that goes into the gardens can be incredibly impressive.”

Over the ten years since Phil instigated the event, he estimates that over 100 schools and 2,500 pupils have been involved together with hundreds of volunteers.

At this year’s show BAM’s gardens will be seen by their one millionth visitor.

He said: "We put a lot of time and effort in, and our reward is simply that we’re encouraging people to take up careers within the construction industry which has an acute skills shortage.

"We need young people to become our next generation of engineers and project managers.

"I know many are on their way as a result of this competition because they come back to tell me and thank me. "But just by looking at their faces I know we’ve succeeded.”

The gardens are scored and the awards, which are sponsored by BAM, will be given out by Alan Titchmarsh during the Spring Festival which runs from this Thursday until Sunday.

As a finishing touch, the gardens are de-assembled and re-assembled back in their schools or communities.