The 10th annual Pocket Garden Design Competition – which aims to connect children with their food and nature – has been launched by environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful.
As a country with more than 125,000 km of rivers and streams (that’s enough to go round the Earth three times) and over 30,000 freshwater lochs it is fitting that the 2026 competition has a new theme ‘fresh water’, to inspire pupils’ designs.
In partnership with the Garden for Life Forum, Keep Scotland Beautiful is inviting nursery and school pupils, aged three to 18, to design garden which includes:
- food for people
- is good for wildlife
- reuses something while focusing on the integral role.
So, whether in its liquid, solid ice or water vapour state children and young people are being invited to base their pocket garden designs on the vital element.
In recognition of a decade of the Pocket Garden Competition entrants are also being invited to include the number 10 in designs alongside edible plants, reused items and plants that attract wildlife.
The young designers of the best entries will be invited to build and grow their pocket garden at school before filming or photographing it to be displayed as part of an online interactive showcase garden in June where people will be able to vote for their favourite.
Eve Keepax, Education and Learning Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said:
“We’re pleased to announce our tenth Pocket Garden Design Competition with a celebratory 10th birthday and new fresh water theme. We’re excited to see how the theme inspires pupils’ imaginations.
“Schools tell us that their pupils love taking part in this competition and it’s a great way to bring learning for sustainability alive. It’s also a brilliant way to connect children with their food and nature while creating opportunities for pupils to collaborate and work with the wider school community.
“We can’t wait to see the 2026 entries and learn more about the connections between our precious fresh water and the schools who enter.”
Educators that are considering taking part are invited view a competition overview training video to find out more https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/pocket-garden/training/
Pocket Garden Design Competition aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Four, Learning for Sustainability and is run as part of our Climate Action Schools framework. It gives pupils and educators a creative focus to becoming a sustainable learning setting, STEM skills, and the Curriculum for Excellence while learning more about the climate and nature emergencies.
Last year, the charity received more than 130 entries to the competition from 18 local authority areas with the work of 32 finalists being displayed in a digital online showcase.
Designs must be submitted no later than Friday 20 February 2026 online at https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/pocket-garden/submit-your-design/
Further information and inspiration from past years can be found at: www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/pocketgarden
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