Blossoming Spaces Competition
We invited children and young people in East Birmingham to think like a gardener and create a design for one of four new Blossom Spaces.
The competition
During autumn term 2025, we invited children from East Birmingham to become landscape designers and take part in our Blossoming Spaces competition.
Entrants were asked to choose one of four sites owned by Birmingham City Council to design a new ‘Blossom Space’ for. Entrants had to follow a design brief and create a space which they thought would bring benefits to both the local community and the environment by selecting a variety of trees and plants and laying them out in a considerate and attractive fashion.
The competition received over 400 entries from primary, secondary and SEN schools, and in December a panel of judges made their final decision on which designs would win and be turned into reality. The judges were very impressed with the entries submitted, with Pam Smith from National Trust saying “They have really considered how their local communities and nature will benefit, making spaces for wildlife, picnicking and places to be able to run about. I hope it’s where friends and families can connect with nature and each other”.
The winners
We are delighted to announce that the winners are:
Primary Age Category
- Simra, age 10, Timberley Academy. ‘Nature’s Home of Tranquillity’ for Heath Way
- Rhys, age 9, Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School. ‘The Amazing Alleyway’ for Marlborough House Community Park
- Zaynab, age 9, Thornton Primary School. ‘The Blossom Adventure’ for Ideal Village Park
I felt proud to win. I listened to what the community wanted for the space, which was small and pink trees.
Secondary Age Category
- Aminah, age 12, Eden Girls Leadership Academy. ‘Keepin’ it Blossom’ for Stechford Hall Park
The judges also awarded a Highly Commended certificate to the following students for their high quality designs:
- Arie, age 9, Blakesley Hall Primary School
- Haaniya, age 10, Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School
- Muhammad, age 9, Bordesley Green Primary School
- Hareem, age 9, Thornton Primary School
- Qasim, age 9, Shaw Hill Primary School
- Jack, age 13, Kitts Green Academy
Next steps
Over the next few months, the winning designs will be tweaked and planted by Coda Workshop. These updated designs will aim to stay true to the winning designs whilst ensuring he trees and plants will thrive to make the proposed Blossom Space designs look the best they can be.
Ayesha Choudhury, Teacher Eden Girls Leadership Academy said “I would like to thank the National Trust for allowing the girls in our school to participate in Blossoming Spaces competition and I definitely am feeling amazed one of our girls won! The space will be enjoyed by everyone and a legacy left behind for Aminah”.
Celebration event
On March 22nd 2026 we will then be inviting families from around Birmingham to join us at our Blossom Bash at Castle Bromwich Historical Gardens, and event which is being designed by six young volunteers gaining experience in marketing, project events and programming. At this event we will be celebrating the new Blossom Spaces completion and all things blossom through a variety of free child friendly activities. More details will be shared in the upcoming months.
