Burncoose Nurseries Win 20th Gold Medal at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Dame Helen Mirren admires a King Protea plucked from the Burncoose stand

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 Gold Medal for their climate change garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The garden which is once again supported by Terra Firma, was designed to showcase the different types of plants that are suited to the changing environment. By teaming up with Tresco Abbey Gardens the Burncoose exhibit highlighted plants which thrive in warm, dry and windy conditions, as well as the more familiar shade loving species.

The garden illustrated how plants which have historically only been grown in areas with micro climates, like the Isles of Scilly and some parts of Cornwall, can now be tried in other areas of the UK as a result of the changing weather patterns and temperatures.

Owner of Burncoose Nurseries, Charles Williams, said “We are delighted to have been awarded a Gold Medal at RHS Chelsea, bringing our total tally to 20 gold and eight silver gilt.


Charles Williams (Burncoose Nurseries), Michael Hewett (Terra Firma), Mike Nelhams (Tresco), Dame Helen Mirren, Davie Tricker (Burncoose and one of the stand designers)

“The entire team has worked exceptionally hard to create a garden which showcases some stunning varieties of plants which thrive in different climatic conditions. We now look forward to the week ahead and a great show.”

Mike Nelhams, Curator of Tresco Abbey Gardens added: “It is wonderful to be able to link up with Burncoose at Chelsea to illustrate that many species of plant, which ten years ago would simply not survive on the mainland, can now be grown successfully if planted in the right conditions.

“The changing climate will have, and is having, a noticeable affect on plant species, this means that many more people are able to grow and enjoy more exotic varieties of plants in their own gardens.”

One of the leading medal award winners at RHS Chelsea, Burncoose Nursery has been exhibiting at the show 25 years and has won more medals at RHS shows than any other exhibitor. This is the seventh year in which the Burncoose exhibition 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 Celebrity Ambassador, Oscar winning British actress Dame Helen Mirren visited the stand, she said: “I am delighted to be representing The Prince’s Trust at Chelsea. The team have worked hard to create this garden which links with the work of The Prince’s Trust and their ambition to help young people grow and develop in their environment.”

Working with the exhibition team this year is keen young horticulturalist, David Tricker, who recently completed a degree in Garden Design and Plantsmanship followed by a one year scholarship at Tresco Abbey Gardens. David’s time at both Tresco and Burncoose helped inspire the theme of the 2009 garden.

Dame Helen Mirren admires a King Protea plucked from the Burncoose stand

Charles Williams (Burncoose Nurseries), Michael Hewett (Terra Firma), Mike Nelhams (Tresco), Dame Helen Mirren, Davie Tricker (Burncoose and one of the stand designers)