Staff and children at Busy Bees Day Nursery in York got creative in their gardens for a top national flower show.

The team from Busy Bees and Leapfrog Nurseries in the North of England helped to showcase a spectacular garden at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show, in Cheshire.

The garden was based on the children’s stories The Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle, and Planting A Rainbow, by Louis Ehlert.

The garden was highly commended by judges, the highest award given to a school garden.

The garden was officially opened by Coun Mark Hackett, the Lord Mayor of Manchester, at a champagne and strawberry reception, who praised the nursery team on their use of flowers and their positive affect on garden wildlife.

The Busy Bees team helped by planting, watering and sowing seeds, as well as making models to enhance the garden’s colourful themes.

Ali Blyth, nursery manager, said: “Thanks to the hard work of the nursery team and kind donations from sponsors, the garden looked fantastic, with flowers all the colours of the rainbow, giant fruit for the Hungry Caterpillar, and beautiful butterfly ornaments, all enclosed within a picket fence.”