Leamington’s floral experts go for Chelsea gold

Two Leamington floral experts who have teamed up are hoping for gold at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Apr 2014, 08:00 BST

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The design for Sarah Horne and Debbie Cooke's exhibit for Leamington for the Chelsea Flower Show 2014.The design for Sarah Horne and Debbie Cooke's exhibit for Leamington for the Chelsea Flower Show 2014.
The design for Sarah Horne and Debbie Cooke's exhibit for Leamington for the Chelsea Flower Show 2014.

And on Saturday (April 12) people in the town can be among the first to see their creation.

Leamington and Warwick MP Chris White is showing his support for the project - put together by Sarah Horne, who runs Sarah Horne Flowers in Warwick Street, and Debbie Cooke from Creative Garden Design, which has a branch in Leamington - by joining volunteers to raise awareness of the project in Jephson Gardens on Saturday.

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The exhibit, the design of which is pictured, will be on display at the Parade entrance to the gardens from 10am until 4pm.

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Both Sarah and Debbie are award-winning in their own fields but this is the first time a florist and garden designer have worked together on an entry to the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea show.

Sarah Windrum, who has volunteered to help put the project together, said: “This amazing and inspiring exhibit will be coming home to be displayed proudly in the town and to be the focus of a Leamington Flower Festival from 2015.

“I want to bring my daughter and then grandchildren there when they are older and tell them I was part of that. It’s history in the making.”

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The project is being sponsored by businesses based in the area, including HSBC, Alsters Kelly, Stoneleigh Park and the Kingsley School.

Earlier this year, the Leamington Business Improvement District ran a competition for children to design their own dream garden on a plate, taking Leamington as inspiration. The mini gardens were then judged by Sarah and Debbie as part of celebrations for their exhibit - which was also inspired by the town’s histoic gardens and Regency heritage - being accepted for the Chelsea Flower Show.

Speaking at the competition launch, Sarah said: “I was about five years old when I entered my first ‘garden on a plate’ competition. I hope the youngsters enjoy it as much as I did as a child and you never know, like me, it could lead to one of them going on to Chelsea themselves.”

This year’s Chelsea Flower Show takes place from May 20 to 24. To find out more, visit www.rhs.org.uk

Related topics:LeamingtonChelsea