6/16/2026 2:36:45 PM
4 mins read
Local pupil Gasmin’s flower-filled design takes pride of place as Springfields Horticultural Society celebrates 60 years of these beloved gardens
Springfields Horticultural Society is celebrating its 60th anniversary. For six decades, the charity has owned, managed, and maintained the fabulous Festival Gardens — and what better way to mark this special year than by inviting the next generation of creative talent to help them celebrate.
Earlier this year, the charity opened their flag design competition to local primary and secondary school-aged students, challenging them to let their creativity bloom and design a flag that truly represents the beloved gardens. The winning design has not only been manufactured as an official flag to fly at Springfields throughout 2026 but will also come to life as a spectacular living flower display within the gardens.
The winning entry came from Gasmin, a local schoolchild whose design moved the judges not only with its visual beauty, but with its warmth and sense of community. Her wonderful variety of flowers captured the heart and character of these gardens, and her bold composition and striking use of colour made her design truly stand out.
The competition proved a wonderful celebration of community spirit, and to see a local child’s creativity brought to life in such a visible and lasting way is something very special indeed. Gasmin’s flag will fly at Springfields all year long — a permanent and proud tribute to her talent and imagination.
“It has been an absolute joy to see so many young people from our community engage with these gardens through their artwork. Gasmin’s design is truly stunning — it captures everything that makes Springfields so special. Knowing that her flag will fly here throughout 2026, and that her flowers will bloom as a living display, is incredibly exciting. This is exactly the kind of connection between young people and our green spaces that we hoped to inspire.”
— Becky Kirtland, Education and Outreach Co-ordinator, Springfields Horticultural Society
“As we celebrate 60 years of Springfields Horticultural Society, this competition felt like the perfect way to honour our past while embracing the future. Gasmin’s design is a testament to the extraordinary talent that exists right here in our community. To see her creativity brought to life in such a visible and lasting way — both as a flag flying above our gardens and as a living floral display — is something very special indeed. We are so proud of her, and of every child who took part.”
— Marion Durose, CEO, Springfields Horticultural Society
Springfields Gardens extends its warmest congratulations to Gasmin, and sincere thanks to all of the children who entered the competition. Every entry was a reflection of the creativity and community pride that makes Springfields such a cherished place.
