YOUNG offenders have turned over a new leaf by creating award-winning gardens.

The youngsters, on youth offending programmes in Southend and Basildon, impressed judges at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

The Basildon team won silver for their garden – Nurturing the Experience – in the Inspiring Spaces category.

It featured two woven willow figures of an adult and child surrounded with fragrant flowers and herbs such as sweet peas, chocolate mint, roses, lilies and summer jasmine. The flowers were all planted in wooden boxes made by the youngsters.

John Lambert, reparation officer at the Basildon Youth Offending Team, who supervised the creation of the garden, said: “Projects such as this prove young people who offend can do the right thing.

“The young offenders who worked on this project have learnt basic wood-working and planting skills which can assist on courses to further their careers.

“This is the first time an Essex youth offending team has entered the flower show and I hope we will continue to do so in years to come.”

A garden with a wartime-theme, made by a group of 40 young offenders from Southend, won bronze in the Small Gardens category.

The 10 to 18-year-olds from Southend Youth Offending Service used recycled materials to create a typical suburban garden from the Forties, when rationing and Government propaganda encouraged residents to grow their own produce.

The garden features vegetables, hollyhocks, a honeysuckle trellis, a potting shed, part of an Anderson shelter and wartime memorabilia including a helmet loaned by Southend Museum.

Mark Flewitt, the councillor responsible for children and learning at Southend Council, said the project had played an important role in boosting the reputation of the young people involved.

He said: “This is a vital step forward on their journey towards turning their lives around.

“One of the young people who helped create the garden is now going on to study at a renowned agricultural and horticultural college, and another has already started a job with a landscaping firm.”

After the show finishes on Sunday, the Forties-themed garden will be rebuilt at Southend Parks Nursery, in Wakering Road, where it will be used to teach children about life during the Second World War.

Another Essex winner was Chrissie Leigh-Walker, who won gold for her bonsai exhibit.

The 54-year-old, who owns Bushukun Bonsai garden centre in Hockley, used the Japanese art of growing miniature trees in containers to create her winning display.