A school garden alive with baby bluetits in the spring, harvests of raspberries in the summer and the cheery voices of children all year round, has won the 2026 Bishop of Norwich Environment Prize for Schools.
The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham Usher, was shown around the Good Shepherd Garden by pupils of Dereham Church of England Junior Academy before presenting them with the £1,000 prize.
He opened the garden in spring 2024 and was delighted to return and find out how the wildlife space, inspired by Psalm 23, has matured.
“It is a joy to see the green pastures of the Bible, recreated here in Dereham,” he said. “Something that began with an ancient song is nurturing plants, insects, birds – and children – in 21st century Norfolk.
“I love how the children were included in the project right from the start so that they have a sense of stewardship of the garden, as well as the great benefits for their mental and physical health of being outside in God’s glorious creation.”
School business manager Dawn Reardon said a small group of pupils and staff look after the garden, which is also used as a quiet space during playtimes and some lessons.
She said they were thrilled to win the Bishop of Norwich Environment Prize for Schools and that the original inspiration was from a teacher who saw the Bible Society’s ‘Psalm 23’ garden featured on television coverage of the Royal Chelsea Flower Show. She wondered whether they could create something similar on the school grounds, including a ‘quiet waters’ pond and ‘green pastures’ wildflower meadow area.
“Our Good Shepherd Garden is now the annual nesting site for blue tits and great tits, the hungry tweeting of baby birds is so wonderful for everyone to appreciate. Our frogs, although shy and bashful, provide great joy and excitement each year when their bold and brave froglets appear jumping around all over the place, diverting away from lots of little hands,” said Dawn.
She is also leading an ambitious project to plant a 150-metre hedgerow of mixed native trees along a school boundary – with help from many of the children who are members of the school’s thriving Eco Council.
“Once it has become established it will offer protection, privacy, security, shelter, nesting places and a food source for the local wildlife as well as being a beautiful hedgerow for everyone to enjoy with its early spring blossoms and varied shades of green leaves,” said Dawn.
The school plans to use the £1,000 prize money to buy perennial flower mix for extra year-round colour in the Good Shepherd Garden, new gardening equipment, gloves and kneelers, and climbing plants to grow between the garden and school car park.
The Bishop of Norwich Environment Prize for Schools was launched last year to recognise projects run by Church of England primary schools across the Diocese of Norwich such as wildlife areas, gardens, nature clubs and recycling initiatives. Bishop Graham Usher is lead bishop for the environment for the Church of England.
Dereham Church of England Junior Academy is part of the Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust (DNEAT), with more than 400 pupils aged between seven and 11, across 16 classes.
