Gardens of Cornwall and BBC Radio Cornwall Garden Design Competition

A Winner is Announced! Gardens of Cornwall and BBC Radio Cornwall Garden Design Competition

Louise Todd from St Ives has won the prestigious award to design a ‘ garden of Cornwall’ to be created at Royal Cornwall Show (8-10 June) and for the BBC Show Garden at the RHS’ Hampton Court Palace Flower Show (6-9 July).

Judging took place on Friday 24 th March at Lanhydrock where over 70 entries where examined. Judges Tracey Wilson (Duchy of Cornwall Nursery), John Harris (Tresillian Estate), Alistair Rivers (Duchy College), Nigel Pascoe (Flambards), all GardenLine presenters on BBC Radio Cornwall, plus Tim Hubbard (BBC Radio Cornwall) and Claire Vickers (Cornwall Gardens Project) were thrilled with the quality and standard of all the entries:

“This has been an absolutely amazing experience; we couldn’t be more delighted with the presentation, skill and beauty of some of the entries that we have received. This is going to be a real challenge to find just one winner” said Tim Hubbard.

However, after much deliberation a winner was chosen, Louise Todd from St Ives, a keen amateur gardener whose winning design sums up many aspects of what is a ‘ garden of Cornwall’. Claire Vickers from the Cornwall Gardens Project says:

“The great thing about this design is that we have a hot, dry garden at the front with a circular pebble courtyard, then a granite wall intersecting the middle of the garden with a gate leading to a cooler, jungle inspired planted garden. A contemporary piece of sculpture is also placed within the garden, bringing together the artistic and cultural energy that Cornwall has on offer’.

Louise’s design will be interpreted by Duchy College and built as a show garden for display outside the Floral Marquee at Royal Cornwall Show. The show garden will then be taken to RHS’ Hampton Court Flower Show in July and will be built by the four GardenLine presenters and Tim Hubbard.On hearing the news of her winning entry, Louise Todd exclaimed:

“I am completely overwhelmed and a little scared, this means so much to me. The idea began with Barbara Hepworth’s garden where there is a fusion of contemporary art with traditional garden design, providing a distinctive and iconic garden of Cornwall”.

A second category is still open to Years 8 and 9 secondary school students in Cornwall. Pupils will be asked to submit designs for a landscape planting scheme suitable for a roundabout that will welcome people to Cornwall with the use of plants and features that evoke a garden landscape. Winners will receive plants worth £500 for their school and individual prizes related to gardening and landscape design. Closing date for entries has been extended to May 26 th 2006 and entries should be sent to: Carole Gravett, Duchy College, Rosewarne, Camborne, TR14 0AB.