Sparsholt College add to their accolade of Horticultural awards with the news of a Gold and a Silver Merit award for their two ‘Beautiful Border’ garden displays in support of Maggie’s Southampton.
Staff and students from Sparsholt College’s Horticulture department came together to produce Beautiful Border entries ‘The Wave’ and ‘Maggie’s Sanctury’ in support of the cancer charity based in Southampton to display at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair held in the grounds of Beaulieu’s Motor Museum. The hard work of Sparsholt students, staff and Maggie’s volunteers resulted in a Gold and a Silver Merit award being received for the display.
Designed by Garden Design Diploma students, the display took inspiration from the architecture and nature of Maggie’s Southampton. Symbolising the journey of those with cancer, their family and friends and the support that they receive from Maggie’s through the stages of diagnosis, treatment and support.
Horticulture Lecturer Chris Bird said: “We are here for the third year, it’s amazing we’ve taken two designs forward and they have been really successful, one resulting in a Silver Merit and the other a Gold. The student journey is particularly important, and it has brought together two years of their studies with us with Garden Design.”
Garden Design student Vicky Lincoln said: “Working on the garden has been great, especially as this is a career change for me. Sparsholt has been amazing and I’m very grateful to have been part of this and that I get to take this knowledge with me when I leave.”
Will Ham, Centre Fundraising Manager at Maggie’s Southampton said: “It’s been a pleasure working with Sparsholt for the gardens. The students have portrayed the work we do at Maggie’s perfectly through design.”