A SPECIALIST gardening club has ended a phenomenal year with yet another gold medal.
Cheshire Bonsai Society received their 15th RHS gold medal at Tatton Flower Show.
The coveted accolade comes just months after judges awarded gold for their inaugural ‘completely faultless’ exhibit at Chelsea Flower Show.
Matt Wood, shows co-ordinator, said: “This is our 15th gold which is a brilliant way to end such a monumental year.
“We featured never before seen trees, trees we showed at Chelsea and a return of trees that were on display at the very first Tatton 24 years ago.
“This was another brilliant effort by members who helped build the display, provide trees and come to join us through the week.
“Public interest continued to be high, the judge’s feedback was very complimentary and members have enjoyed passing on their knowledge.”
Last year, the society was invited to the RHS awards ceremony and bowled over to win two top accolades.
The society received the Holford Medal last year, awarded to the best exhibit of plants and/or flowers staged by an amateur group.
Members were overwhelmed to surpass the efforts of large national societies.
They were also named winners of the Lawrence Medal, which is given to the best RHS display of the year.
Matt said: “This is an enormous achievement for any exhibitor, but for a society of amateurs it is almost unheard of.
“The Lawrence Medal is the highest honour an exhibitor can receive for their display and we won it!
“This has massively raised the profile of the society as well as rewarded and validated us for our hard work.”
The society wishes to thank Simon Jones, their Bonsai expert.
Matt said: “He deserves to be given credit for all of his work over the years.
“He has led the development of the display, provided beautiful trees and guided members for decades to develop their trees to a showable standard.
“Credit is also due to Elizabeth Scott, who founded the society in 1987, and whose commitment and generosity has build it into what it is today.”
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