A Catholic secondary school has won a top award at BBC Gardeners’ World Live for a Holocaust memorial garden inspired by the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation.
Trinity Catholic School in Leamington Spa received a Gold award and the People’s Choice Award for Best Beautiful Border for its “Bud and Blossom Reflection Garden” – a compact show garden designed by students in the school’s History Research Group.
The project was developed in connection with the Holocaust: Their Family, Me and Us education initiative, inspired by Robert Rinder’s BBC documentary. Pupils who helped design the garden have previously met Rinder and ’45 Aid Society chair Angela Cohen.
Robert Rinder MBE said: “Trinity completely understood what the landscape, nature, flowers and trees meant to my grandfather and ‘the Boys’… It’s more than a garden – it’s a space for reflection, remembrance, and renewal… Their learning has inspired such a special, special place.”
Robert Rinder in BBC documentary My Family, The Holocaust and Me
Symbolism runs throughout the design: triangular planting beds represent both the Holy Trinity and unity, while a silver birch memorial tree invites visitors to hang the names of loved ones lost in the Second World War. Visitors were also offered seed packets to take home as a gesture of remembrance and renewal.
In a group statement, the students said: “It’s a chance for us to remember important moments in history and show respect to those affected. It brings us together as a school to reflect our faith and values. Taking part makes us feel proud – it’s a way we can help spread kindness and remembrance in our community and beyond.”
Teacher Deborah Hayden said the pupils were “overwhelmed” by public response at the Birmingham NEC. “This was about honouring memory, sharing faith, and bringing people together through history,” she said.
The Bud and Blossom Reflection Garden, designed by Trinity Catholic School pupils, on display at BBC Gardeners’ World Live. Image courtesy of Trinity Catholic School
Lucy Tremlett, event director at organisers Immediate Live, added: “These 9 sqm borders are often deeply personal. The Cultivating Connections theme really inspired designers this year – and this garden was a beautiful example of creativity rooted in meaning.”
The school’s History Research Group was founded in 2021 and has previously created a memorial mosaic on campus and produced a short film that was screened at Westminster.
