Student gardeners win RHS gold medal

A STUDENT gardener from Stockton Heath been awarded a coveted gold medal by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) at the Chatsworth Flower Show for a long border design called “Chatsworth Lady”.
Bev Williams works together with Toni Slater from Penley, North Wales as “Hortis Amici” and the pair designed and built the display as a tribute to Deborah Cavendish, the late Dowager Duchess of Devonshire.
The display features a willow and weathered steel sculpture of “Chatsworth Lady” as its focal point. The romantic border has a planting palette full of perennials arranged to show the contrast in their shape, form, scent, texture and colour. The plants chosen are naturally suited to the local area, providing a habitat for native wildlife to flourish in.
Bev said: “We were thrilled that our design was selected for the RHS show and to see the finished result with the spectacular Chatsworth House as a back-drop is such an honour. But to also receive a gold medal has completely blown us away.”
Toni and Bev, are both studying RHS Level 3 Practical Horticulture at Reaseheath College, Nantwich and were inspired to enter the RHS show by their tutor David Black. They both paid tribute to their fellow students and Toni said: “We have had so much support from a fantastic team that have helped us to cultivate the plants and flowers used in the display, plant the flower beds and construct the whole design onsite for the past week. We couldn’t have done it without them.”
Voting is open for the “People’s Choice” award for your favourite garden at the show. To show your support and vote for “Chatsworth Lady” Long Border visit:  https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chatsworth-flower-show/Gardens?type=56
RHS Chatsworth Flower show is open to the public until Sunday, with the plant sell-off starting at 4pm. Any profits made from the sale of the “Chatsworth Lady” plants and sculptures will be donated to The Christie Charitable Fund. Donations can also be made at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/BevandToni?utm_medium=email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=20190606_114279
If you would like to visit the “Chatsworth Lady” border at the show for some inspiration for your own garden; enjoy some gardening retail therapy; look around the 13 show gardens and floral marquee or take part in the family-friendly workshops: tickets can be purchased online at https://rhschatsworth.seetickets.com/