Borough of Telford & Wrekin

Chelsea Flower Show 2007

Telford & Wrekin wins Silver!

Telford & Wrekin Council's Thomas Telford inspired show garden won a Silver Medal at the Chelsea Flower Show 2007.

The garden, designed and created by Urban Designer Michael Vout and Environmental Maintenance Officer Chris Jones, was created to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Telford.

Judged awarded the garden, which was one of 20 show gardens at the prestigious event, with a Silver Flora Medal.
The tollhouse and garden at the Chelsea Flower Show
Chris Jones and Mike Vout - and their dedicated band of green fingered helpers - worked hard to pull together the creative garden, which was set in the 1820s and featured a tollhouse, privy, toll gate, green picket fence and even the highway itself.

But their hard work paid off and the garden was visited by the Queen, who took a special interest in the Thomas Telford theme and spent a few minutes talking to Chris and Mike about the design and the reason behind it.

Celebrities including gardeners Charlie Dimmock, Alan titchmarsh and Chris Beardshaw, all visited the garden, along with actress Juliet Stephenson.

Chris said: "To win a Silver Flora at our first ever outing to Chelsea was fantastic. We put Telford & Wrekin on the map horticulturally once again, as well as achieving further recognition for Thomas Telford himself in what was the 250th anniversary of his birth."
The team in the Thomas Telford themed garden
The garden was brought together through a partnership with the Ironbridge Gorge Museum, Harper Adams College, British Wildflower Plants, and Telford & Wrekin Services, along with several other organisations.

Details such as the roof on the tollhouse, colour of the fence, construction of the highway and footpaths and boundary treatment all met Telford's specifications. The garden was divided into a fruit, vegetable and herb garden, with cabbage, carrots, beetroot, strawberries, gooseberries and rosemary, and a decorative garden with ornamental plants. The vegetables grown were all available in the early 1800s.


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