Latest news with #SilverGilt
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Inspirational North Lanarkshire garden takes shape at new home
The Down's Syndrome Scotland garden will be located at the Watch US Grow charity within Palacerigg Country Park, Cumbernauld. Work has started to give an award-winning garden from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show a permanent home in North Lanarkshire. The Down's Syndrome Scotland garden will be located at the Watch US Grow charity within Palacerigg Country Park, Cumbernauld. This has been funded by Project Giving Back, a unique grant-making charity that supports cause-driven gardens at RHS Chelsea, ensuring their legacy continues by relocating them to community sites across the UK. Watch US Grow supports young adults with Additional Support Needs with gardening and life skills, and they will be involved in recreating and then maintaining the garden, which will be open to the public from next year. Designed by Nick Burton and Duncan Hall of Burton Hall Garden Design, the garden takes visitors on a journey through the life of someone with Down's syndrome. It highlights their many unique qualities while also challenging visitors to appreciate and understand the barriers that people with Down's syndrome still face as they strive to live their best lives. It was inspired by Duncan's eight-year-old nephew, Liam, who has Down's syndrome and is supported by Down's Syndrome Scotland. The garden was awarded a Silver Gilt medal for small show garden and the People's Choice for Best Small Show Garden. North Lanarkshire Council Leader Jim Logue and Convener of the council's Environment and Climate Change Committee Councillor Helen Loughran visited the garden site to meet the team involved. 'The garden is truly inspirational, creating a picture of the qualities of people with Down's syndrome as well as the challenges and barriers they face on a daily basis,' Councillor Logue said. 'The young people from Watch US Grow will benefit hugely from being involved in planting and looking after the garden and we're proud to have the garden here at Palacerigg Country Park for visitors to enjoy for years to come. 'We also hope it raises awareness of and sparks discussion about the issues faced by people with disabilities in our communities.' The double award-winning garden will officially open in May 2026 when it will be in full bloom, recreating the stunning garden that was seen by the thousands of visitors to RHS Chelsea last month. 'For a charity like Watch Us Grow, who use gardening to educate and improve people's lives, there is no greater opportunity than this,' said Tom Harten, General Manager at Watch US Grow. 'The Down's Syndrome Scotland Garden will now become an integral part of Watch Us Grow and the work we do. It will be maintained by adults with Additional Support Needs, which will include Down's Syndrome but also Autism and a range of other learning disabilities. 'This is so great for so many including the two charities, Watch Us Grow and Down's Syndrome Scotland, and the garden designers but also for North Lanarkshire, Palacerigg Country Park, the local community and garden lovers all over Scotland who may like to visit. I would like to thank Down's Syndrome Scotland for recognising the work we do and choosing to partner with us to look after this amazing garden.' Eddie McConnell, who is the Chief Executive of Down's Syndrome Scotland and who lives locally in Cumbernauld, joined the Leader and the Convener in their recent visit to the garden at Watch US Grow. He said: 'We are thrilled to bring our Chelsea Garden to Palacerigg Country Park and to partner with Watch US Grow and North Lanarkshire Council who have been so supportive of our efforts to create this unique public space for everyone to enjoy.'
The National
20-05-2025
- General
- The National
Scottish garden designers win prestigious award at Chelsea show
Nick Burton and Duncan Hall, known professionally as Burton Hall Garden Design, were awarded their first Silver Gilt medal for their Down's Syndrome Scotland garden at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show. The garden, which is set to be permanently relocated to Palacerigg Country Park in North Lanarkshire following the show, was inspired by co-designer Hall's nephew, Liam, and aims to highlight the unique qualities of and challenges faced by those with Down's syndrome. READ MORE: Last chance to see 'vibrant' bluebells at this 'stunning' Scottish woodland The pair said of their win: 'We are over the moon to win our first Silver Gilt medal at RHS Chelsea for our 'Down's Syndrome Scotland Garden', which has all been made possible by the generous funding provided by Project Giving Back. 'We hope visitors are drawn in by the garden's lush, woodland planting, but also take a moment to look a little closer and see the deeper meaning and themes woven into its design. 'We hope our garden will allow people to reflect on the daily challenges faced by people with Down's syndrome, so they can reconsider misconceptions about their abilities, and appreciate the many joyful, positive qualities they bring on a greater level to society.' References to Down's syndrome can be found throughout the garden, including a 'hug' structure decorated internally with cushions co-designed by the Down's Syndrome Scotland community and benches featuring 21 slats and three sets of legs to represent the chromosomal cause of the condition. READ MORE: Wildfire in Scottish Highlands beauty spot rages on after 'extreme' warning One bench features a plaque engraved with a Gaelic proverb, which translates to 'hard as the heather, lasting as the pine', and was chosen by the designers as a representation of the 'hope of fulfilled potential' for people in the Down's syndrome community. A number of other Scottish designers assisted with the project, such as Edinburgh-based cabinet makers Laurence McIntosh and ceramic artist Frances Priest.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rawdon in Bloom announced as a Britain in Bloom 2025 UK finalist
MULTIPLE gold award winning Rawdon in Bloom have been nominated by RHS, Yorkshire in Bloom to represent Yorkshire along with two other groups in the Britain in Bloom competition 2025. The competition will see 44 finalists selected from across the UK, compete to be crowned winner in one of the eight categories, and secure an RHS Gold, Silver Gilt, Silver or Bronze award. One of the category winners will then go on to be named Britain in Bloom Overall Winner for 2025. Rawdon in Bloom is a finalist in the Small Town category and will compete against Conwy in Bloom, Garstang in Bloom, Kingsbridge in Bloom, Stony Stratford in Bloom, Uppingham and Whitchurch in Bloom. The community gardening groups are looking to impress the judges with their efforts to improve their local area. Each group will be judged against criteria with the environment, community engagement and horticulture at their core. Pak Ling Wan, RHS Community Programme Manager, said: 'Across the UK, groups are enjoying the benefits gardening brings both to their local communities and their own wellbeing. They are making a real difference to the places we live, making them more welcoming to all, tackling environmental issues and engaging people in their activities that positively impacts the wider community.' The news has been met with great excitement amongst Rawdon in Bloom volunteers, who are eagerly looking forward to the challenge of participation in the competition. Judging will take place over the first two weeks in August 2025. Phil Gomersall, Vice-chair, Rawdon in Bloom said: "The group is quite unique as it attempts to grow in house the vast majority of plants it plants out from seeds and plugs and aims to work in an ethically and environmentally way as possible. "The group also raises funds at various events in the village to help with the running costs of creating and maintaining planters and growing beds. "It is intended to expand on the number of planters and growing sites around the village this year. If you think you could offer any help to the group in its endeavours, contact kmduckels@ or rawdonrib@ No experience required just a willingness to help and some gardening gloves." Rawdon in Bloom can be followed on FB and Instagram.
