Wadworth is celebrating the news that its Hop Cycle garden entry, in partnership with Sparsholt College in Hampshire, has won gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Part of the RHS Discovery zone (an interactive and informative part of the Great Pavilion, focusing on plant science and education in a fun and involving way), the garden was also awarded best RHS Discovery cxhibit.
Wadworth’s 6X sponsorship is behind the efforts of a team of 14 extended diploma horticulture students from Sparsholt, who designed and built every aspect of the garden, showcasing heritage hops as its theme.
The garden features many aspects associated with Wadworth’s 140-year brewing heritage in Devizes, such as a penny farthing inspired by founder Henry Wadworth, who cycled from London to Bath in 1869, to original beer barrels, traditional handpumps and a magnificent Hop Cycle pub sign, hand painted by Wadworth’s talented in-house sign writers.
The Hop Cycle display also includes two garden areas: one planted with species that make or flavour drinks, and the other a pub garden to relax and enjoy. Alongside a high standard of plantsmanship, the garden also aims to educatevisitors about how hops are grown, their fascinating history and the heritage of hops andbeer within British culture.
Paul Sullivan, Wadworth’s sales and marketing director, said: “We are extremely proud to have been involved in such an exciting project for the Chelsea Flower Show and to have worked with the remarkably talented staff and students of Sparsholt College. A huge thank you to all of them for their hard work.’’
And the win at Chelsea isn’t the only gold Wadworth is celebrating this week. Its seasonal winter ale, Old Timer, was awarded top prize at the SIBA South West beer competition in the strong ale category.
For more information on the Hop Cycle garden and to view exclusive videos of how it was created, visit www.sparsholt.ac.uk/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/
