Riverside Meadows Academy - St Neots pupil Charlie, an aspiring horticulturalist from Rushden, has earned a Rotary Young Citizen Environmentalist Award for his inspiring contribution to the academy's outdoor spaces.

16-year-old Charlie, started his horticultural journey in the summer of 2022 and has created something truly special for the academy to enjoy by giving a memorial garden a new lease of life.

Charlie grows a wide range of fruits and vegetables which are then prepared in the kitchen and served to students in the canteen, as well as propagating plants to sell, raising money for the Academy.

The Academy, which is part of the Horizon Education Trust, provides services and support for children and young people with educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

The garden provides a space for Charlie to participate in his hobby, as well as providing an outdoor area of tranquillity and wellbeing for all. Inspired by his dedication and interest in his garden area, Charlie wants to pursue a land-based career in the future.

Charlie received the award at a prestigious ceremony in London, where winners of Rotary’s Young Chef and Young Musician competitions were also crowned.

Speaking after winning the award, Charlie said: “I just like how peaceful the garden is. It’s the one place where it feels calm and chilled out.”

“A lot of my BTech Land Studies coursework revolves around how to make a sensory gardens and therapeutic gardens with different types of plants.”

“The environment is really important to me because it helps with my mental health, helps keep me calm and regulated and just overall feeling better in myself.”

“Winning the Award is really important as it gets more awareness out to people about looking after the environment. It might be small, simple things you can do to help bees or birds or other wildlife.”

Charlie was nominated for the Rotary Young Citizen Award by the Rotary Club of St Neots St Mary’s. Mike Andrews, from the club said,

“The environment is something that we all have individual and collective responsibility to take care of, and Charlie is certainly setting an example to us all with his enthusiasm and impact.”

“The environment is one of Rotary’s Areas of Focus, so it has been so inspiring to see Charlie using his passion to take action and make a difference.”

Dirctor of Education, Nick Morley said,

"The impact of Charlie’s garden is felt every day across the academy. It is a space for calm, growth, and togetherness, and that is a remarkable legacy to be building at 16."

Charlie was one of 8 outstanding young people selected in this year’s awards from over 60 nominations submitted from across the UK and Ireland.

Now in its 18th year, the Rotary Young Citizen Awards were launched in 2007 to celebrate the amazing achievements of young people. Since then, hundreds of inspiring young people have been recognised for their social impact, volunteering and fundraising.

Nominees are all supported by their local Rotary club.

To find out more about Rotary, its work with young people and community impact, visit www.rotarygbi.org

Watch a video of Charlie speaking about the award at: https://youtu.be/UFcmfXRb8es