Lowestoft In Bloom: VE Day 80 Years Commemoration
October 15, 2025
On 8th May, Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy proudly signed up for the Lowestoft in Bloom Competition with a mission to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. Our vision was to cultivate a space that reflected remembrance, resilience, and renewal. Through planting, learning, and reflection, pupils were invited to embrace the values of community spirit, sacrifice, and hope that defined this era.
The Vision
Our school garden was designed to honour the past, care for the environment, and bring our community together. Inspired by wartime families who grew food and repurposed materials, we aimed to “dig for victory,” learn from history, and build a hopeful future.
The Project
The garden was divided into themed zones, each capturing an element of wartime and VE Day:
- Upcycled containers / Make Do and Mend
- Dig for Victory area
- Street Party / Afternoon Tea Celebration
- VE Day Songs
- Campaign Posters
- Anderson Shelter
- Wireless with Churchill Quote
- Remembrance and Reflection
Each class took ownership of a zone, supported by families and staff. Highlights included:
- Nursery: Tea cup planters and bunting
- Reception: “Wireless Wheelbarrow” representing Winston Churchill
- Years 1 & 2: Dig for Victory vegetable beds
- Year 3: Anderson shelter and the Land Army
- Year 4: VE Day songs including White Cliffs of Dover and Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye
- Year 5: Campaign posters and intergenerational reflections with Manor Farm Care Home
- Year 6: Local remembrance linked to the War Memorial at St Edmund’s Churchyard
- Families & Staff: Upcycled growing containers created over half term
After two months of hard work, the judges visited on 10th July, where Mrs. Greenacre proudly presented a video showcasing the project’s journey.
The Results
On 22nd September, the judges returned, and we were overjoyed to learn that Kessingland Primary had achieved an incredible four awards – and had been named the overall winner of Lowestoft in Bloom 2025! 🌟
🏅 Gold Award for Team Leader
🌸 Silver Award for Best Vegetable Garden
🏅 Gold Award for Best Themed Garden
🌸 Outstanding Credit for Staff Commitment
A Community Effort
These achievements reflect the hard work, dedication, and creativity of our entire school community – staff, pupils, and families alike. Together, we created a commemorative VE Day garden that truly brought history to life while celebrating resilience and hope.
A special thank you goes to Mrs. Greenacre, whose leadership and vision guided the project so beautifully and successfully.
✨ We are proud to be recognised as Lowestoft in Bloom Champions 2025 – a true testament to what can be achieved when a community works together.