Flood design flowers win silver

A Cheltenham flower bed designed on a flood theme has won a silver award at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show.

The entry shows a helicopter on a heli-pad with a wicker man leaning over a bridge to rescue a drowning second wicker figure surrounded by sandbags.

The show, which runs until 27 July, coincides with the first anniversary of Gloucestershire's floods.

The theme was chosen as a tribute to the communities and emergency services who pulled together during that time.

Two of the borough council's gardening enthusiasts, Sharon Backhouse and Dave Compton, came up with the design.

The wicker men were made by young people from the local Butterfly Garden, which gives young people with learning difficulties the opportunity to have hands-on gardening experience.

Chris Ryder, chairman of Cheltenham in Bloom said: "Winning the silver award is brilliant news.

"It's a great tribute to everyone who helped during the time of the floods, especially all the volunteers and emergency services."

Cheltenham's flower bed will feature on Gardner's World, BBC 2, at 2030 BST.

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RHS Tatton Park Flower Show
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