An exhibit of fantastical bugs made from fresh flowers and plants has scooped a silver medal for Writtle University College at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
Further Education students and staff created The Enchanted Forest exhibit for the first heat of the RHS Future Florist 2018.
Eight colleges across two heats – one at Hampton Court and one at RHS Tatton Park – are competing for one of four places in the final contest at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2018.
Elaine Thackray, FE Floristry Lecturer, said: “To say we are delighted is an understatement as the standard from the three other colleges was unbelievable. The students and staff worked hard over seven full days to prepare the exhibit and then it took six hours to build at the Show.”
Writtle University College’s exhibit took inspiration from nature to create an ethereal ambience. Floral foam was hand carved to create a bug and a tree man’s face. Materials - succulents, chrysanthemums, echinops, eryngium and different mosses - were selected for their variety of texture and forms whilst considering their longevity for the duration of the Show.
The team – including Level 2 and Level 3 Floristry students - paid attention to every surface of the exhibit, incorporating planting pockets for ferns into the tree man’s beard. There was even a surprise under the toadstool – fairy lights and insects made of floral materials.
They will hear in August whether they have scored highly enough to gain a place in the final competition.