Pupils from The Dingle Primary School, Haslington, enjoyed the limelight when they appeared on Reaseheath College’s eye catching garden at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park.
Thomas Atkinson, six, his seven year-old sister Beau, Poppy Beeson, eight, and seven year-old Ruby Deaville, who were dressed as ‘bug hunters’, posed on the garden with a giant aphid for photographers on press day.
The flower show, which showcases the best of British gardening talent, was enjoyed by 80,000 visitors before closing on Sunday (July 26). Reaseheath College, in Nantwich, a regular medal winner in previous years, chose this year to put on an educative feature so was not judged in the show garden category.
Beau Atkinson, Poppy Beeson, Ruby Deaville and Thomas Atkinson from The Dingle Primary School with Reaseheath College’s giant aphid
In line with the RHS’s aim to inspire the younger generation into careers involving horticultural science and viable food production, the garden – called ‘The Leaf’, took visitors on an exploration through the structural layers of a leaf and showed how the plant might try to avoid predators.
The garden was sponsored by Pochin Construction, who are the contractors on Reaseheath’s £8.5 million national centre for horticulture, sustainability and environmental management which is currently being built. The giant aphid was manufactured by Nantwich firm Harbrook Engineering.
The garden itself was designed and built by Foundation Degree in Garden and Landscape Design undergraduates Matthew Kent, Nigel Barber and Sam Lawton. Matt said: “We wanted to step outside the box and design something which was young and interesting. We really enjoyed the reaction of visitors when they were viewing the garden.”
Floristry student Robyn Longden shows off the RHS Tatton Park Floristry College of the Year award
Reaseheath floristry students were also celebrating after winning the RHS Tatton Park Floristry College of the Year Competition for the second year running.
The prestigious competition is open to UK based floristry colleges and training providers and showcases the talent of students.
Reaseheath’s victorious team were Level 3 Diploma in Floristry students Carol Edgington, Robyn Longden and Rachel Collinson-Fletcher, who were supported by Head of Floristry Sue Poole.
The students, who were commended by Chairman of Judges Ian Lloyd for their contemporary design skills and for the impeccable condition of their flowers and foliage, have now qualified for the national finals at the Chelsea Flower Show 2016. Reaseheath’s student team took the ‘runner-up’ title at Chelsea this year.
The challenge at Tatton was to create four designs which represented ‘Musical Through Time’. Reaseheath’s florists chose ‘My Fair Lady’ as their theme and created a hat, a wired bouquet, a buffet table arrangement and an arrangement for the entrance of the theatre.
As well as winning the college competition they also won a silver gilt medal for their stand.
Ian Lloyd, who is a senior RHS floristry judge, said: “The stand was immaculate and the finish and presentation were excellent. The whole exhibit was a real credit to Reaseheath’s students and all the judges were extremely impressed.”
Three Reaseheath horticulture students also contested the WorldSkills UK Landscape Gardening semi finals at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. Chris Shore, 20, who has just completed his Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture, qualified for the national finals, to be held at The Skills Show in November.
Reaseheath was also one of partners on the Cheshire’s Gardens of Distinction exhibit and ran a series of demonstrations in the Discover and Grow section.
The challenge at Tatton was to create four designs which represented ‘Musical Through Time’. Reaseheath’s florists chose ‘My Fair Lady’ as their theme and created a hat, a wired bouquet, a buffet table arrangement and an arrangement for the entrance of the theatre.
Ian Lloyd, who is a senior RHS floristry judge, said: “The stand was immaculate and the finish and presentation were excellent. The whole exhibit was a real credit to Reaseheath’s students and all the judges were extremely impressed.”