Great British Garden Competition winners announced
30 November 2009
Congratulations to Hannah Clegg from Malmesbury and Rachel Read from Colchester, who have been announced as the winners of the RHS Olympic Park Great British Garden Competition.
Their designs were chosen from over 200 entries and voted on by 4,000 members of the public, to win them the roles of official designers for the ‘Great British Garden’ that will sit within the London 2012 Park. Both Hannah and Rachel will now join the team of world class landscapers on a series of workshops, to turn their two separate plans into one succinct garden, measuring a quarter of an acre in size.
Hannah, aged 11, originally chose to include Olympic treasures in her design, playing on the gold, silver and bronze themes of the Games. Hannah’s garden takes the visitors down paths which reveal secret objects; from a tree of golden acorns, to a silver sundial and bronze water feature. She said of her design, "I would like the garden to have a magical feel to it."
On hearing that she had won, she exclaimed, "I was so excited I jumped up and down when Daddy told me the news! I'd like to say a thank you to all the people who voted for my design and I'm really looking forward to working towards the final garden."
The adult category winner, Rachel, opted for a perpetual garden based on a circular theme. Her garden design is laid out around a spiralling cinder path bordered by raised beds. To ensure the Olympic value of inclusion is adhered to, Rachel opted for plants and vegetables of every colour, alongside plaques naming each British Olympic gold medallist since 1908.
"I'm really looking forward to working with Hannah and the parklands design team to develop a garden in the Olympic Park", said Rachel. "To see the garden come to life will be amazing and it’s a real honour to be part of it."
Both winners were treated to a tour of Parkland on Monday 30 November, to see where their garden will be built. They were joined by Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, Olympic Gold medallist Jonathan Edwards and RHS Acting Director General Gordon Seabright.
Image: John Hopkins (ODA), Gordon Seabright (RHS), Tessa Jowell (DCMS), Rachel Read (winner), Jonathan Edwards (Olympian), Hannah Clegg (winner), Philip Dunn (MP for Ludlow) and David Higgins (ODA)