'Celebrating the Rivers Heritage Site and Orchard in Art'
300th Anniversary Year
Call out to enter the Children's Art Competition
open to people who are 18 years old or younger
Sawbridgeworth’s RIVERS HERITAGE SITE & ORCHARD (1725 – 2025) is celebrating 300 years since the founding of Rivers Nursery. This Rivers 300 event is for children who have an interest in the natural world and orchards and for those who want to celebrate Rivers orchard and its history in art and use it to inspire.
Terms and conditions of the art competition:
The Rivers Heritage Site and Orchard Children's Art Competition 2025 is open to everyone who is 18 years old or under and submissions from individuals/schools/art groups are welcome.
Drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, digital art, craft and textile works will all be considered.
- Individual children may submit up to 2 works for selection by our judge via email.
- Schools/art groups may submit 1 class entry per class for selection by our judge via email.
- A limited number of works will be selected to show at the exhibition and prize-giving event.
- All emailed submissions will be shown digitally at the exhibition and prize-giving event.
Please do not include themes, imagery, or content that could be deemed offensive, discriminatory, or inappropriate for a diverse and inclusive community setting. All works will be judged without prior knowledge. The judge will make the final decision, and no feedback can be given There are no fees.
Individual Work Size Limit: 2D – Approx A3 (29.7 cm x 42 cm. 3D – Approx (length x width x height) 30x30x30 cm. All work must be mounted/framed.
School Class Work Size Limit: 2D – Approx A0 (84.1 cm x 118.9 cm) All work must be mounted/framed.
Please note that work is submitted at the owner’s risk. RHSO takes no responsibility for loss or damage.
For inspiration – the optional Orchard Visit Open Day: Rivers Heritage Site Apple Day – Saturday, 4th October 10am to 2.30pm. All children to be accompanied by an adult please.
How to submit your work: Photographs of your work should be emailed to: Rivers300childrensart@gmail.com between 1st and 5th of November.
***Please ensure your work is photographed in focus, cropped, is NOT behind glass and taken in good light. By submitting you agree that your work will be shown digitally at the exhibition.***
The limited number of children/teachers whose work has been selected for exhibition will be contacted by email by and asked to deliver their work to an address in Sawbridgeworth by 14/11/2025.
Exhibition and Prizegiving Event: to be held on Thursday, 20th November from 5:30pm to 7.00pm at the Sawbridgeworth Town Council Chamber, Sayesbury Manor Cottage, Bell Street, Sawbridgeworth. CM21 9AN. This will be booked via EVENTBRITE.
Collection of exhibited works: Please collect by Friday, 21st November by 3pm. Collection from the Sawbridgeworth Town Council building.
Please visit the RHSO 300 website or the main RHSO website for further details about the site and its history and more images.
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| Women working in the nursery in WW2. |
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| Thomas Rivers corresponded with Charles Darwin about developing new fruit varieties. | The conference pear was developed by Thomas Rivers. |
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| A botanical painting painted by May Rivers, a Rivers family artist. |