Silver-gilt Medal Win

After months of planning, designing, and growing all of the hard work paid off this morning when Burncoose Nurseries received the news that they had been awarded a well deserved Silver Gilt for their ‘There and Back Again Garden with Caerhays and the Prince’s Trust ‘ at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The garden, which is once again supported by Terra Firma Capital Partners, is a journey through the regions and habitats of the world that held particular fascination for plant hunters and collectors such as J.C.Williams of Caerhays Estate. 

The Williams family has played an important role in plant hunting expeditions and the stand celebrated some of the great plant hunters of the past two centuries and the involvement of the Williams family of Caerhays Castle and Burncoose Nurseries.

J.C.Williams of Caerhays Estate was responsible for sponsoring plant hunters such as George Forrest and Ernest Henry Wilson.  He purchased his first 25 Rhododendrons from Veitch and Sons Nursery, another major sponsor of plant hunting expeditions.  These were hybridised to create some of the well known varieties of today.  The stand explores several geographical areas from which these plant hunters brought back rare specimens, now familiar to us today.

Each region is represented in the There and Back Again Garden by the typical habitat featuring plants native to the areas. Similarities in environment are illustrated by the natural transition from one area to the next within the stand making the overall impression very naturalistic.

Owner of Burncoose Nurseries, Charles Williams, said “We are delighted to have been awarded a Silver Gilt Medal at RHS Chelsea, bringing our total tally to 21 Gold and nine Silver Gilt. 

“The entire team has worked incredibly hard this year.  Battling with a bitterly cold winter to an unseasonably warm April the team has managed to nurture the plants and ensure they were at their best for the show.  They have created a wonderful garden that is particularly special this year, as it links back directly to my family’s plant hunting history.

“Every year the standard of exhibits and gardens at Chelsea improves so we are very pleased with our medal win.  I’d like to thank the team for all of their hard work and also our sponsors, Terra Firma Capital Partners, for making the Burncoose exhibit such a success.”

This is the ninth year in which the Burncoose garden has been sponsored by Terra Firma Capital Partners, a unique private equity organisation who are also generous supporters of youth charity The Prince’s Trust.

Each year Terra Firma uses their sponsorship at RHS Chelsea to support the work of The Prince’s Trust in changing young lives. This year Prince’s Trust Ambassador Jane Asher visited the stand, she said:  “I'm so pleased to be representing The Prince’s Trust at Chelsea. The extraordinary stories of the plant hunting that went on in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries have always fascinated me, and to see those journeys brought to life in The Burncoose’s There and Back Again Garden is a real treat.

“The Prince’s Trust works incredibly hard to inspire young people to push themselves, take on challenges and be brave in taking their first steps.  This garden, and the history behind it show that with support, faith from others, passion, determination and enthusiasm, people can achieve great things.”

Tim Pryce, Chief Executive of Terra Firma, said he was pleased to once again support The Prince’s Trust on the Burncoose Nurseries stand, he said: “Terra Firma is committed to charitable work and is a proud supporter of The Prince’s Trust and the outstanding work they carry out.  

“The Chelsea Flower Show is a great place to raise the profile of the work of The Prince’s Trust. By linking up with Burncoose Nurseries we are able to showcase very important messages and ideas that affect young people in an exciting and innovate way.”

The plant hunting heritage of Caerhays Castle, which is showcased in the There and Back Again Garden, is illustrated in a new book which was launched in March this year, Caerhays Castle, An Introduction to its History, Owners and Gardens.  This book also highlights the activities the Williams family undertook in funding plant hunting expeditions and horticultural developments. 

Copies of the new book Caerhays Castle, An Introduction to its History, Owners and Gardens will be available at the Burncoose stand and via the website www.caerhays.co.uk