Super Bloom Schools: A Blossoming Success at Historic Royal Palaces

In 2022, amidst the lingering shadows of the pandemic, Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) embarked on an ambitious project that would ultimately touch the lives of thousands of young people across the United Kingdom.

The Super Bloom Schools project, a national initiative led by the HRP schools team, was designed to educate and heal, bringing colour and life into the lives of students who had endured months of school closures and isolation. The project aimed to foster well-being and resilience, offering a joyful and memorable experience during a time of recovery.

A Garden in the Moat: A Royal Tribute

At the heart of this initiative was a grand vision: transforming the Tower of London’s historic moat into a vivid wildflower garden. This was not merely a garden; it was a celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, a symbol of hope and renewal after unprecedented disruption. The moat, typically pristine and manicured, was overhauled with 10,000 tons of soil and 20 million seeds, creating a spectacle intended to draw visitors back to the Tower and inspire awe in all who saw it.

“The pristine lawns of the moat were replaced with 10,000 tons of soil and 20 million seeds to create a wonderful vision of colour and nature in the middle of the concrete city.” — Lucie Parkes, Historic Royal Palaces

While this transformation was underway, an unexpected but significant donation provided the means to connect young people with this remarkable project. In an era where young people’s mental health was increasingly under strain, particularly in urban areas with limited access to nature, the Super Bloom Schools project sought to address these needs through a national initiative centred on well-being, relationships, and recovery rather than traditional curriculum learning.

From Vision to Reality: A Nationwide Invitation

The Super Bloom Schools project invited schools across the UK to find disused areas within their grounds and turn them into well-being gardens, mirroring the wildflower spectacle at the Tower of London. The HRP team provided everything from seeds to teacher training, online resources, and even how-to manuals, ensuring schools needed the support to create their gardens.

Two tiers of involvement were established. Partner schools, primarily from inner-city areas of high deprivation, received intensive support, including in-person teacher training, virtual meetups, and equipment funds. These schools also had the opportunity to visit the Tower of London to see the Super Bloom in person, creating a tangible connection between their efforts and the national celebration. Meanwhile, a second tier of schools received virtual training, online resources, and free seeds, ensuring the project could reach as many students as possible.

An Overwhelming Response

The response to the Super Bloom Schools project exceeded all expectations. Over 1,500 schools participated, with 24,000 young people visiting the Tower and nearly 100,000 more involved in creating their gardens nationwide. The teachers’ and students’ enthusiasm and creativity were nothing short of inspiring. Teachers reported significant impacts, such as students who had previously struggled with confidence taking on leadership roles in the garden improved behaviour and formed new friendships.

The project also sparked broader community engagement. Local businesses donated plants and equipment, grandparents volunteered in schools, and some schools, inspired by the project’s success, even reimagined their curriculum to centre around outdoor learning.

“Teachers told us about individual pupils who were lacking in confidence, taking on leadership roles in the garden, massive improvements in behaviour, new friendships being formed, and renewed motivation for overcoming language barriers.” — Lucie Parkes, Historic Royal Palaces

Beyond the Bloom: A Lasting Legacy

The success of the Super Bloom Schools project led to its continuation beyond the initial Jubilee celebration. HRP secured funding to run the project for additional years, with an ongoing focus on well-being. The project has evolved to include increased mental health expertise in its teacher training and resources in partnership with organizations like Young Minds. This partnership aims to equip teachers with strategies to tackle anxiety and build student resilience, reflecting the importance of mental health support in schools.

The project also introduced a buddy system to foster connections among lead teachers, ensuring they felt supported and motivated. Additionally, HRP created a private Facebook group for teachers to share their experiences and progress, making the project more interactive and community-driven.

“If you give a garden sunlight, water, nutrients, and the right seeds, then everything grows. If you give a student the knowledge, the information, and the ability, their potential grows as well.” — Lucie Parkes, Historic Royal Palaces

One of the most significant outcomes of the Super Bloom Schools project has been its role in shaping the future strategy of Historic Royal Palaces. The initiative demonstrated the powerful impact that a heritage site can have on the broader community, especially in times of need. It opened the eyes of many within the organisation to the potential for heritage sites to serve not just as custodians of history but as active participants in the well-being and development of the communities they serve.

A New Chapter for Historic Royal Palaces

As a charity dedicated to preserving history, HRP’s primary purpose has permanently been preserving the past for future generations. However, the Super Bloom Schools project has shown that this mission can be expanded to include serving the community in relevant and beneficial ways to today’s society. This realization has played a part in developing a new strategy and vision for Historic Royal Palaces, one that embraces the potential for heritage sites to contribute to societal well-being.

The success of the Super Bloom Schools project is a testament to the resilience of both the students and the educators who participated. It has proven that there is room for growth, learning, and joy, even in adversity. As the project continues to evolve, it remains a shining example of how a single initiative, rooted in history, can blossom into something that changes lives for the better.

Continuing to Grow

As the Super Bloom Schools project moves into its third year, it continues to be oversubscribed, with schools eager to participate. The project’s ongoing focus on well-being highlights the enduring need for such initiatives, even as the immediate crisis of the pandemic fades into memory. With each passing year, the gardens planted by these schools grow a little taller, a little brighter, and a little more entrenched in the fabric of their communities.

Ultimately, the Super Bloom Schools project is not just about flowers. It’s about nurturing potential, fostering connections, and creating a lasting legacy of growth and resilience. And as these gardens continue to bloom, they serve as a reminder that even in the most challenging times, beauty and hope can flourish.

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Lucie Parkes from Historic Royal Palaces presented the Superblooms Schools Project at Museums, Health & Well-Being Summit 2024. If you’re looking for inspiration, why not attend one of our upcoming events.