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SAC Congratulates Chelsea Students - Silver Medal For First Time Garden Design Entrants

SAC News Release Ref. No: 10N38
Published: 27 May 2010

SAC Chief Executive and Principal Professor Bill McKelvey has praised the efforts of the group of 14 HND Garden Design students who won a RHS Chelsea Flower Show Silver Medal for their courtyard garden.

Professor McKelvey, who attended what is one of the most famous events in the horticultural calendar, said,

“I was fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the exhibit at Chelsea and I was most impressed by both the exhibit and by the great interest that it was creating amongst those visiting the show.  I want to pass on my congratulations, and those of the SAC Board, to all of you for the tremendous success that you have achieved in winning a silver medal at Chelsea this week.”

The “Sustainable Highland Garden” was a group effort.  Amber Goudy led the design team, while the construction was carried out by Steven Hunter, together with Calum Buchanan, Antonio Ferreira and Ross Taylor. Dan Abrahams and Jianmo Li were screen engineers.  Planting was the responsibility of Tony Burke, Maxine Cadzow and Magali Tamaki.  Finance and communications were overseen by Paul Lyall, Christa Scobie Seiffert, Alan Boyd and Magda Wesoly.

Their next major task is to move their garden from London back to Edinburgh and “Gardening Scotland" at Ingliston, from 4th- 6th June!

In addition to SAC, key sponsors were Strutt & Parker, with invaluable support from Ghillie and Glen (Scottish Smoked Salmon), Kontrol (Premier Wool), Falkirk Wood, Encraft, British Wild Flower Plants, Interior Motives , Harom Trade international, ROFA and the Forestry Stewardship Council.

The concept for the garden was to create an image of a contemporary highland croft which acknowledged the inevitable historical associations but without presenting a 'shortbread and tartan' image of modern Scottish garden design.  Instead, it represents a celebration of a modern way of life in a traditional setting.

The key features are clean crisp design, intelligent use of materials, sustainability, self-sufficiency and respect for the environment.  These features are seen in a vegetable garden, wind turbine and solar energy generation. The planting involved 100% Scottish native plants, and native materials such as the use of slate and yew. 

The design layout includes the construction of an eco-house complete with a straw bale cross-section.  The wild landscape of Scotland fringes the garden.  Rotating wind protection screens have attracted particular attention. Made of yew and willow they close in high winds to protect the garden.

The HND in Garden Design Course at SAC is one of a comprehensive range of courses offered by SAC in horticulture and garden design. They are at levels ranging from higher national certificate and diploma through to Degree and Honours Degree. Courses can be studied full- or part-time using distance learning. They are spread across all three SAC campuses at Ayr, Aberdeen and Edinburgh. 

The nature of the HND Garden Design Course meant the students were given a large degree of independence in carrying out the project.  However they had support and guidance from SAC lecturers Colin Norton (horticulture and project co-ordination), Jason Russell (garden design  and construction) and SAC Horticulture and Garden Design Programme Leader Margaret Norton who, in congratulating the students on their hard work, said,

 “The students have made an exceptionally good job of this project and the garden stands up well against the competition.  This is the most important garden design show in Britain and quite possibly the world and acceptance to exhibit at the show is a prize in its own right.  Having achieved a medal is an outstanding result for this our first attempt, especially in light of the difficulties involved in getting a garden from Edinburgh to London and looking its best for one particular week in May.”

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News Release Contacts

SAC Contact

Dr Margaret Norton
Programme Leader in Horticulture
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 5354079

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News Release Issued By

Mr Ken Rundle
Head of Communications
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4196

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