Coastal Drift

Royal Horticultural Society prizes recognise the highest standards of garden design and plantsmanship

There is a bouquet of Kent winners at the biggest flower show in the world.

It is the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show which ends this weekend.

The organisers said the award come after exhibitors had spent months planning their arrangements.

The prizes recognise the highest standards of garden design and plantsmanship.

The Student Design and Build Award 2011 went to Susan Willmott and Adele Ford, whose exhibit called Coastal Drift was sponsored by Wyevale East Nurseries.

They took a gold with their garden design, and said: “We chose plants and materials that you would associate with the coast such as sun-bleached timber, pebbles and shingle.

“Planting includes typical coastal plants that will tolerate salt wind and will grow in freedraining soil. Tall structural plants - offering seeds, flowers invite beneficial insects, such as bees and butterflies.

“The concept is taken directly from the waves of the sea, represented by the shapes of the wall and choice of planting. The back feature wall is curved and planted with grasses. Swathes of grasses add movement and the habit and tones of planting - including blue-green tones of the Eucalyptus gunnii, harmonise with the sea theme. The waves of the planting are a metaphor for the tidal water below the deck.”

Awards are made in three categories; flora for exhibits of gardens, flowers and ornamental plants; Lindley for exhibits of special scientific or educational interest; and finally Grenfell which is for exhibits of pictures, photographs, flower beds, floral arrangement and floristry.

Other Kent winners include Downderry Nursery near Sevenoaks, taking a gold in Best Exhibit in the Floral Marquee with its lavender.

Cookoo Box Nursery took Silver Flora for its exhibit of vegetables, herbs and fruit; and Brookfield Plants near Ashford taking Silver Gilt Flora for their Hemerocallis, a floral marquee.

And also taking Silver Gilt Flora was Madrona Nursery, also near Ashford, for its unusual perennials, rare shrubs and grasses.

Taking a bronze in flora was Eastcroft Roses for its rose festival.

Meanwhile, Hadlow College and Canterbury College both took Silver Gilt Grenfell awards for their entries; Canterbury for its roses.

Adult tickets range from £14.50 to £32.50, and each full paying adult can taken two children under 16 for free.