Capel Manor College has won another Silver Gilt medal, adding to a collection of five others already achieved by the College this year. The medal was awarded to Philippa O’Brien, garden designer and horticulture lecturer at the College’s Gunnersbury Park centre. Philippa designed the garden for the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show that took place 7-12 July, and built it with BTEC National Certificate and National Diploma horticulture students based at Gunnersbury Park.
To celebrate the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII, the RHS sponsored six gardens – one for each of Henry’s wives. Philippa O’Brien was chosen to create a garden for Katherine Howard, the fifth and youngest wife, “As Katherine was a teenager when she was beheaded the garden was designed with a young girl in mind. Lots of pink and white planting was included and a huge four poster bed planted with thyme formed the central feature,” she said. The majority of the plants used in the garden were grown by the students. Year 2 National Diploma student Gerry Houghton said, “It has been an amazing opportunity and experience, how many horticulture students can say they have taken part in both Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows?”
Capel Manor College already claimed three other Silver Gilt medals for gardens they designed and built at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in May, and other Chelsea medals were won by association for gardens designed and built by students either still in training, or by Capel graduates. Madeline Hall, Head of College said, “We see our students’ entries in the RHS shows as a splendid learning opportunity. Celebrating their high success is a great bonus.”
Garden Design graduate Wendy Allen studying at Capel Manor’s north London centre in Enfield had the honour of a Gold medal at the Hampton Court show for her garden ‘The Rain Chain’, featuring a green roof and a rain garden to illustrate how urban front gardens could help to reduce flash flooding. She also won the Best Sustainable Garden Award. Wendy’s garden was sponsored by Hadlow College in Kent (which she attended in 2007-2008) and Westgate Joinery in West Sussex. It was built with the voluntary help of her fellow students – an achievement in itself. “Hearing the judges say that the planting was some of the best in the show this year was a great confidence boost,” said Wendy. “Credit should go to Capel Manor’s Plants and Planting Design course tutors and syllabus for helping me achieve that standard. I doubt I could have done it a year ago!”
Karen Rogers who recently completed her Diploma in Garden and Planting Design at the Gunnersbury Park centre won a Silver medal for her design, ‘A Chef’s Kitchen’. She also achieved full marks from the judges for her planting. Inspired by recent popular cookery programmes her garden aimed to motivate people to cook al fresco, taking advantage of fresh ingredients and creating healthy and delicious food. Karen said, “The design was simple and organic showing how a small garden space can be transformed into an elegant allotment and cooking area. It demonstrates that the choice of plants grown at home is far more varied and fresher than what’s available in the supermarket.”
Gunnersbury Park Florists including staff and students on Level 2 and Level 3 courses also got involved at Hampton Court for the first time this year, using ‘flower power’ to demonstrate their skills. The intention behind their exhibit, ‘The Four Elements – Air, Water, Earth and Fire’ was to convey the importance of natural energy within floral designs whilst promoting the use of sustainable products in the floristry industry, and of British grown flowers, to reduce the carbon footprint. Michelle Moore, Floristry lecturer and coordinator at Gunnersbury Park said, “We won no medals but we were very pleased to be there. We had many positive comments from members of the public and a super bunch of student helpers, who gained so much from the experience.”
