The four Wyevale Nurseries sponsored ‘Long Border’ designs featured at the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Flower Show at Tatton Park this week have won three Silvers and one Bronze Medal (July 17-21, 2024).
The winning designs were put together by final year Landscape Architect students from the University of Gloucestershire to meet the RHS challenge of ‘Make a Statement’.
Hereford-based Wyevale Nurseries’ Amenity Sales Executive, Alan Young explains: “We’re so delighted to be able to share this brilliant news and to have been part of these great wins.
“All four of the entries sponsored by us this year, featuring our plants, scooped awards. It’s a tremendous achievement for everyone involved and we couldn’t be more pleased for the students. The judges, like us, were obviously impressed with their great concepts and brilliant ideas, and all their hard work has really paid off. It was a privilege for us to have been part of this process too.
“Of the four borders we sponsored ‘Authenticity’ by Cara Gaffney, Kaci Purnell and Katie Bishop, ‘Temporal Bloom Odyssey’ by Bayley Blyther, Ashley Woollaston and Jessica Richardson and ‘Nectar Nook’ by Megan Chopp, Phoebe Hunt and Ayomide Palmer all received Silver Medals. ‘Growth Begins with Reflection’ by Victoria Bettany, Eloise Wood and Sophie Wiseman was awarded a Bronze Medal.”
Each year at Tatton, the Long Border offers an exciting opportunity for designers, gardeners and horticultural students to showcase their creativity, inspire visitors and potentially earn a prestigious RHS medal too.
‘Authenticity’ is themed around self-expression and human interconnectedness and includes an array of plants from the robust to the refined, each chosen for their distinctive characteristics. Central to the border is an interwoven willow ring, representative of the unity and strength found in both diversity and living as one’s authentic self.
The ‘Temporal Bloom Odyssey’ border offers a captivating journey through the narrative of time and change with key features representing the past, present, and future. Vibrant blooms and abstract textures are key to this design.
‘Nectar Nook’ emphasises how a small space can make a significant impact. The design integrates pollinator-supporting elements like shelters, burrow sites and Fragaria (wild strawberry) for nourishment. The selection of plants – particularly those in the ultraviolet colour spectrum, like Eremurus robustus (giant desert candle), alliums and lupins – is intended to attract pollinators, complemented by visual interest.
Meanwhile, ‘Growth Begins with Reflection’ is inspired by the work of the artist Frida Kahlo, this thought-provoking border explores the effects that the pressures of social media have on our mental health. The space is split into two sections: expression and repression.
More details of the gardens and some of the plants that were included in each of them can be found on the show’s website page here Long Borders at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2024 / RHS Gardening.
Wyevale Nurseries’ product selection is envied across the industry and the talented team regularly introduces new, award-winning plant varieties.
Its main business is to supply garden centres, landscape contractors, local authorities, foresters and landowners with a comprehensive array of trees, shrubs, hedging, herbaceous and specimen plants.
For further details about Wyevale Nurseries, which is based in Hereford, please call 01432 845 200 or visit www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk.