Member Signup
Bringing Customers & Clients together
Accessibility Links: Accessibility info | Viewhigh contrast version Viewstandard version | Skip Navigation
Member Login:
Return to List
Return to List
North West Samaritans receive Silver Gilt at Tatton Park Flower Show
Timber shines at RHS Tatton Park.
The "untended" section.
A curved timber display was used as part of an award winning garden created to celebrate all the Samaritans do for those in need.
Three companies contributed to the display, which saw small 2ft x 4ft waved and curved panels of pine produced for the specially created Silver Gilt award winning garden at this year's RHS Flower Show in July. The entire garden was steeped in symbolism, with the curves of the wood representing the ups and downs of life's journey.
Designer Paul Hensey, of Elysium Garden and Landscape Design, was approached by The Samaritans to come up with a design which reflected what the charity does. Paul then went on to enlist the help of Foxcroft Landscape Services and Rubio Monocoat UK, among others, to help bring the charity's vision to life.
The garden took two weeks to create and received extensive coverage from the BBC when it was aired on television on July 23.
As well as the timber display, the tribute garden to the Samaritans also included an uneven path symbolising the unpredictable journey of life and an untended part representing places in the world and in the person that are not immediately accessible. To signify the Samaritans' 24 hours a day, seven days a week listening service the garden was also designed for use both day and night, with lighting to demonstrate its potential in the dark.
Steve Foxcroft, of Foxcroft Landscape Services, said: "To win Silver Gilt on our first attempt at the show was amazing, the response we received from the public all week has been wonderful which makes all the hard work and effort of everyone involved so worth it.”
Most people donated their time to the project for free, but materials cost about £50,000 – money which was recouped from raffles during the week-long flower show. Meanwhile Rubio donated its new Rubio Monocoat Exterior Grade, an exterior hard wax oil that was applied to the bare timber to prevent blistering and pealing. Rubio hope to take part in a worthy project again next year.
A small charity will now have the garden reconstructed in an area of their choice.
The RHS show took place in Tatton Park, Cheshire, and corresponded with National Samaritans Day on July 24.
Return to List