Revisit Pastures Bye at Hampton Court Flower Show - Healthy Life Essex

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council is revisiting pastures old with their entry at this years Hampton Court Flower Show.
 
For the past 14 years, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council has built a garden at Hampton Court Flower Show and the Chelsea Flower Show, achieving medals each year. Last summer, the Council’s drought-resistant show garden, called ‘The Water Table’ clinched a bronze award in the prestigious Show Garden Category at the Hampton Court Flower Show, adding to an impressive tally of horticultural awards.

This year, the theme of the Council’s exhibit is ‘Pastures Bye’ and the garden will draw inspiration from the long history of costal grazing along the shoreline and estuaries of south east Essex. A central feature of the garden will be a mobile shepherd’s hut, which has been carefully restored by craftsman Gerry Peachy. There will also be a range of plants which are specially adapted to coastal climates and proximity to salt water; native plants that thrive in brackish waters, creating an ideal environment for various wading birds such as the avocet.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Executive Councillor for Culture, Councillor Derek Jarvis says, “Southend-on-Sea has some wonderful parks, enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. I am extremely proud of the work of our Parks Section who again, are producing an amazing exhibit. It is really exciting to see this garden develop which celebrates the heritage of our local area”.

“Exhibiting at The RHS Hampton Court Flower Show gives us the opportunity to show an international audience that Southend-on-Sea is not just a sea side resort and has much more to offer including a location for Horticultural excellence. Previous entries at Hampton Court and the Chelsea Flower show have always sparked a considerable degree of national interest”. “Best of luck this year to the team as they add the finishing touches to their exhibit”

The garden is currently in the latter stages of construction at Hampton Court, and will be judged by a panel of national horticultural experts on Monday 6th July.