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City College Garden Wins Silver Gilt at Hampton Court
6 July 2007
Horticulture students from City College Brighton and Hove have won a Silver Gilt Medal for their small tropical garden, 'House of Plants', at the world-renowned Hampton Court Flower Show. Not only is it the first time that a tropical garden has featured in the 'Small Gardens' category, it is also the first garden design that co-designers Beth Rogers and Julia Harding have ever worked on.
Attending the launch of the garden was Blue Peter Gardener Chris Collins, who studied horticulture at City College. Chris says:
Left to right: Chris Collins, Helen Scott (co-sponsor), Beth Rogers and Julia Harding
'As a former student, I'm really proud to see the College do so well and I'm chuffed that it was a talk I gave to the students that originally gave them the inspiration to design a tropical garden. I thought the design was absolutely spot on, the planting was superb and it simply stood out a mile in the Small Gardens category. To be honest, I thought it deserved a Gold Medal. '
Beth Rogers says:
'So much hard graft has gone into the garden and it feels wonderful for our work to be recognised in this way, especially as it's the first time that myself and Julia have ever designed a garden. All the visitors keep saying that they're amazed that it's a student garden and I think the fact that its so colourful has really made it stand out during the grey, dull weather we've been having lately.'
Co-designer Julia Harding says:
'Having a digital graphics background, combining horticulture with my design skills for Hampton Court has been creative bliss. To then go on to win a Silver Gilt medal has been an incredible experience.'
Jim Miller, City College's Subject Area Manager in Horticulture says:
'It's a fantastic achievement for the students to win this highly prestigious medal. It's the seventh year in a row that the College has won a medal and appeared on national television which is a thrill for everyone involved.'
Dougal Philip, Chairman of the Assessors at Hampton Court, says:
"It was the originality and flare of the design and the planting that impressed all the judges and made 'House of Plants' stand out. It has proved to be a real talking point amongst our visitors and it's a credit to all of the students involved. The college and sponsors must be incredibly pleased and proud."
Sponsorship for the garden came from two local companies managed by former City College students ? Lewes nursery House of Plants (from which the garden has taken its name) and on-line currency exchange business, 4 X. Helen Scott, Managing Director of 4 X, says:
'This is the second year that 4X Currency Corporation has sponsored the college at Hampton Court and we are absolutely thrilled that it has won such a prestigious medal. We know how much work has been put into the garden and it looks absolutely wonderful. We are very proud to be associated with it, and would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Jim Miller, the designers, and all the students involved.'
Paul Thomas, Manager of House of Plants, says:
'We're obviously delighted about the garden's success and it's been a very enjoyable experience working with the College. We very much hope to work with them again in the future.'
For media enquiries, please call Brian Bell, Marketing Communications Officer, on 01273 667788 Ext. 488 or email bb1@ccb.ac.uk
About City College Brighton and Hove: Founded over 100 years ago, City College Brighton and Hove has become an international centre of excellence. Every year over 2,000 full-time and 13,000 part time students as well as many international and European students choose City College as their education provider. The College provides training to over 2,000 businesses and has a 'City Business Skills' department which focuses on employers' needs. Offering over 650 courses from basic level to pre-University level, City College is working with its partners to develop the workforce of the future.
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