Writhlington School proudly hosted the 25th British Orchid Congress last weekend, from 26th – 28th October. The show, thought to be one of Europe's most prestigious orchid events, was an exciting moment for the school's Orchid Project, which has enjoyed global success since its beginnings over twenty years ago.

Sadly, BBC Gardener's World and TV presenter, Monty Don, was unable to attend as planned, cancelling the week before due to other commitments.

Despite this setback, the school were expecting over 2,000 visitors, with the students carefully planning the event and being involved every step of the way – from contacting businesses for trade stands to organising exhibitors, dropping leaflets and designing their special eye-catching show T-shirts, so those attending could easily spot students who could point them in the right direction or answer any questions.

The Post-16 building at Writhlington was converted into a show hall, packed full of dazzling displays, with the heady perfume of the orchid flowers greeting visitors as they arrived. There were many trade stands, selling orchids and offering advice and the students gave guided tours around the school's glasshouses, explaining about the project. Guests at the special preview evening on Friday, 26th October enjoyed a chip buffet (planned by the students!) with lectures throughout the weekend by various experts, including talks by Writhlington's Zoe Parfitt and Zoe Barnes on 'Orchid Growing for Beginners' and 'Growing Orchids the Writhlington Way'.

The Writhlington Orchid Project has been led from the start by teacher, Simon Pugh-Jones, who now has the project firmly on both the school's science and enterprise curriculums.

The idea grew as a result of the school's after-school gardening club (which is still very active), rapidly evolving into a business project, which not only enables the students to plant, grow from seed, propogate and learn all about orchids, but also gives them the responsibility for the financial side of the project, as they oversee sales and decide how the money they make should be spent. This includes packing up orchids to be sold at shows, plus field trips to exotic destinations where they have seen orchids growing in the wild and learnt about the conservation of the environments orchids grow in, or attending courses on horticultural show judging.

The project now works alongside experts at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Eden Project and others and the school is often receiving visitors worldwide who are interested in their work and in starting similar schemes. Not to mention the numerous awards at Royal Horticultural Shows which hang proudly in the glasshouses and television appearances!

For those of us struggling to keep our orchids alive, Zoe Parfitt, Writhlington's Top Grower, says: "Never give orchids tap water, it can kill them, always use rainwater. Orchids like windowsills and if you have a plant that refuses to flower, put it in the fridge for half an hour, as it shocks them into it!"

Well done to all of the Writhlington students who were a credit to their school.

For more information on the Writhlington Orchid Project, or the 25th British Orchid Congress, visit: http://www.wsbeorchids.org">www.wsbeorchids.org