DIARMUID GAVIN yesterday described winning a gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show as another “great achievement for Ireland”.
It is the first time the celebrity gardener has received a top prize, but it is his fourth medal overall having won a bronze medal in 1995 and silver gilt medals in 2004 and 2007.
Gavin said he was “surprised” at winning as he felt his design does not conform to “the traditional values of the judges at Chelsea” and brought an innovative element of “funfair” to the show.
“The RHS is a relatively conservative organisation and I’m not conservative,” he said. “My designs are different to what they’re usually looking for but I’ve never felt annoyed at their conservatism and they invite me back every year.”
The Avatar-inspired "Irish Sky Garden" is the largest display ever created at the Royal Horticultural Society's showcase event and is also the first design to incorporate a 16m pod, which can lift people 25m into the air with the aid of a crane.
To celebrate the award Gavin and some of the Irish workers that built the garden draped a 200ft Tricolour over the pod, which was then lifted into the air to cheers.
"This garden was a response to the difficulties facing Ireland at the moment, and hopefully lets people in Britain know our country is beautiful, innovative and open for business," said Gavin.Some 13 gardens in total received medals with Gavin's flying garden and the BQ towering allotment receiving gold, while the Daily Telegraphgarden was awarded the highest accolade of best in show out of 600 entries.
Bob Sweet, head of shows development for the RHS, described Gavin’s design as “spectacular,” adding that his innovative designs “set him apart ”.
Fáilte Ireland, who are providing about €2.3 million for the garden, which will relocate to Cork in July, described the award as a “fantastic feature that will significantly boost Cork tourism”. Overall, Irish entries made a big impression at the show, with three out of a possible four trade stalls receiving certificates of commendation, recognising the “high quality of presentation”.