At just over halfway through the academic year, the Prior's Court Planting Throw Down 2025/26 is in full swing with young people planting more than 1,500 seedlings during their Potting Shed sessions already.

Launched at the start of the 2024/25 school year, the Throw Down is designed to encourage the planting of as many seedlings as possible in Land-based learning sessions. It has blossomed into a fantastic success, combining learning with a healthy dose of teamwork and friendly competition.

Read more about the idea behind the Throw Down

As of Friday, 27 February, there were 1,594 plants potted in 2025/26 by young people during their Potting Shed sessions this academic year. 

More than a competition

While the competitive spirit has added a sense of fun and motivation, the benefits of the Great Potting Throw Down go much deeper. Planting cuttings is a regular part of sessions in the Potting Shed, helping autistic young people with complex needs to develop essential fine motor skills while contributing to meaningful and visible projects around the site.

This initiative was led by Potting Shed Vocational Learning Instructor Sammi, who began tracking successful plantings during each session to help young people see the progress they were making. Only fully completed plantings are counted.

These seedlings go on to brighten and enrich spaces all across the Prior’s Court site. You’ll find them thriving in our raised beds, planters, sensory garden, house gardens, the Young Adult Provision, the Countryside Learning Centre and the Orchard.

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For context, the figures last year

The final figures from the 2024.25 competition were:

• 3,193 plants successfully planted across the year
• 84 – the highest number of plants planted by a single house in one week
• 26 – the top individual session record, set by one young person working independently
• 130 – the average number of plants planted per week

Last year's winners