CHRIS BEARDSHAW SCOOPS A UNIQUE SHOW DOUBLE at Tatton Flower Show 2009

CHRIS BEARDSHAW SCOOPS A UNIQUE SHOW DOUBLE

Award winning garden designer and TV presenter Chris Beardshaw and Cheshire’s Gardens of Distinction are celebrating after scooping a unique double – winning a Gold Medal and The Best in Show Award for the second year running, at The RHS Tatton Show at Tatton Park this week.

The highly imaginative show garden entitled “Ness Botanische, Cheshire’s Gardens of Distinction – Under The Microscope has proved a major hit with the many visitors to Tatton and for those who couldn’t make it to the show, they will have their chance to see the garden when it is relocated in Spring 2010 to a permanent home at the University of Liverpool’s, Ness Botanic Gardens near Chester.

The garden was sponsored by Visit Chester & Cheshire in association with the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and Ness Botanic Gardens. The garden celebrates Cheshire’s Gardens of Distinction and reflects on the many links which have, and still are, being forged between German and British centres of horticultural excellence.

Chris’s imaginative circular design was inspired by decades of scientific and academic research which has been carried out at Ness Botanic Gardens. The design represents a microscopic view through a plant stem and the visitors to the Show were unusually able to walk on a journey through the various layers of the stem, represented by differing plant styles including Germanic-inspired prairie gardens.

At the centre of the garden sits a sculptural artwork by Rebecca Newnham who has worked with Chris on previous projects. Chris asked Rebecca to study the pollen grain of Primula Bulleyana, a plant that carries the name of Ness Botanic’s founder Arthur Kilpin Bulley , for inspiration for the artwork, and he was delighted with her golden coloured glass piece.

Commenting Chris said, “I am thrilled for our team and for Cheshire Gardens of Distinction that we have achieved a Gold Medal and The Best in Show Award for the second year running, which we believe is a unique achievement at Tatton. We are also delighted with the response we have received from the visitors to the show who seem to be inspired by the unusual shape of the design and lush planting schemes. What is great is that this garden has a long life after the show at Ness Botanic Gardens, which is one of the jewels of Cheshire’s Gardens of Distinction. The public can continue to enjoy the garden as it will hopefully become a key feature at Ness when it is relocated in Spring 2010.”

Cheshire was also celebrating a Gold Medal for Tatton Park who had a back-to-back garden designed by Tatton Park’s head gardener Sam Yould. “The Hermit’s Grotto – Inspiration for Imagination” was inspired by the true story of the famous Cheshire hermit John Harris, who, after being thwarted in his attempts to marry one of the Egerton family, went on to live in a cave until his death at the age of 99.

Visit Chester & Cheshire Chief Executive Chris Brown commented: “The awards we have achieved at The RHS Show at Tatton Park have been a fantastic achievement for Cheshire and we are delighted Chris Beardshaw and Tatton have for the second year running produced unique and inspirational award winning gardens.”

For further information, contact Jane Southcott at Jane Southcott pr, Tel: 01275 852026 or email [email protected] Mob: 07787 527430