The nation’s favourite Pocket Garden declared

Eight miniature gardens showcasing sustainability and celebrating fresh water win awards

The inspiring overall winners of the 2026 annual Pocket Garden Design Competition have been announced following an online showcase and public vote.  

The competition, run in partnership with Garden for Life Forum, encouraged nursery and school pupils, aged three to 18, to design a miniature pocket-sized garden which include food for people, are good for wildlife and reuse something.

More than 170 entries from 24 local authority areas across Scotland were submitted, representing the work of whole classes and schools, all capturing fantastic imagination and creativity inspired by the 2026 theme fresh water.  In total 26 designs were selected to build and grow their gardens highlighting fresh water as a precious resource that sustains life, and shapes so much of Scotland’s landscape, history and culture.

The final eight winners have been announced and are:

Lathallan Junior School, Aberdeenshire won the Gardening for Wildlife category with its entry The ‘three craws’ eco garden which included rain chains to direct the water flow into the garden and bird bath, sedums on the green roof of the bird feeder and sources of fresh water with different access and depth options to suit a variety of wildlife types.

The Food for People category was won by Arbor Green Nursery, Edinburgh with its entry Our Eco School Pocket Garden including plants that can feed people and wildlife – including purple sprouting broccoli, broad beans, nasturtiums, strawberries and potatoes.  They learned that human-edible food is also needed for wildlife and that they can be shared.

And the Fresh water category was won by Ullapool Primary, Highland with its Water Cycle Garden  which included a mountain, rivers (formed from collected rainwater) leading to a mini loch surrounded by lush planting and a water cycle interpretation sign. ‘It was a beautifully imagined and realised garden, telling a story and nicely planted’ – said one of the judges.

In addition, a judges’ general commendation has been awarded to Oban High School, Argyll & Bute for its Kayak Garden and Redwell Primary, Clackmannanshire for its Playful Pools entry.

The public were also invited to vote for their favourite designs and almost 5,000 votes were cast over the 10 days. 

Scooping first place in the public vote was Milngavie Primary, East Dunbartonshire with its Mini Rainforest entry featuring a poem, working water wheel, pond with hand painted stones and lush vegetation in the mini rainforest planting scheme.

In second place was North Ayrshire’s Beith Primary School with its entry 10 Wee Green Fingers including spaces for wildlife, a working water filter and recipes for the harvest of edible crops. 

Third place in the public vote was Bardykes Farm Nursery, South Lanarkshire design 10 Drops of life which was built in an old bathtub, and included a water feature, compost from the nursery compost bins and was planted with vegetables and herbs which the children will harvest later in the year.

Eve Keepax, our Education and Learning Officer said, “Ahead of the summer it’s wonderful to share happy news and celebrate the efforts of children and young people across the country who have been recognised as overall winners of the Pocket Garden Design Competition.

“We’ve been running the competition for a decade, but the entries, and the transformations from design to real gardens never cease to amaze us and those that visit the showcase every year to vote for their favourites. Our wildlife is in trouble so it’s wonderful to be able to share this good news about so many children enjoying learning about how to look after local wildlife and putting the learning into practice.

“The competition provides a great way to connect children and young people with the natural world, food growing, and local wildlife while supporting Scotland’s Learning for Sustainability ambitions.  We’re looking for funding to support the competition in the future so please do reach out if you want to find out more.”

The online showcase remains online for people to view the designs from this year, and the past decade at: www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/pocketgarden