BUDDING young gardeners are being invited to enter a competition to create their own garden at Bristol Zoo.

The competition, run by the zoo in partnership with Bristol In Bloom, is open to primary schools, clubs and groups, and is a unique opportunity to design and help plant a small garden using the title The Edible Garden as a guide.

Entries will be split into two age groups: four to seven-year-olds and eight to 11-year-olds. Help from teachers or group leaders is allowed, but ideas should come from the children.

The winning entry in each age category will receive vouchers to help with gardening projects.

The overall winner will have their design built at Bristol Zoo Gardens, with a planting day for the entrants to put the first plants in. The winners will also receive a tour of the zoo gardens and a framed photograph of the winning edible garden.

Eddie Mole, head of horticulture at Bristol Zoo Gardens, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for a school or group to design and help create their very own garden within the beautiful grounds of Bristol Zoo. We have never done anything like this before and it is a great way of sharing our wonderful grounds with the local community. I am really looking forward to receiving some imaginative and inspiring entries."

Mike Crook, chairman of Bristol in Bloom, said: "This is a wonderful project which raises children's awareness of where their food comes from. The 'fruits' of their labours will then be appreciated by all those who visit the zoo over the summer."

Local schools will receive competition information in the post, including a design plan of the garden site, which should be used when submitting an entry. Clubs and groups can obtain this information by phoning Monica Whyte from Bristol In Bloom on 01980 611485 or emailing gardenshows@aol.com.

The closing date for entries in the Bristol competition is January 31, 2009. Results will be announced in mid-February.