Going for (and getting!) gold at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park

The thirteenth RHS Flower Show Tatton Park is lucky for some – not least Tatton itself – as it celebrates a gold medal for this year’s show garden. Entitled ‘Paradise Isle: 100 years on’ Tatton’s show garden is a re-imagining of the serene Japanese garden, which was introduced to Tatton a hundred years ago.

A number of events have marked this special centenary including an exhibition in the mansion, a Japan Children’s Day in May and a series of workshops, talks and tours. The centenary celebrations culminate with Tatton’s garden at the annual horticultural show.

‘Paradise Isle’ has already received considerable interest from the general public and media. The immaculately landscaped garden can be viewed from a well positioned viewing deck, whilst along one side, finer detail of the garden can be obtained from the traditional Japanese ‘four eye’ fence. From the deck, the eye is drawn across low stone bridges, over thin stretches of still, clear water and delicately planted areas of ferns, acers and mosses. It is a restful and beautiful garden.

Tatton’s gardening team has won well over 20 medals at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park during the last thirteen years. Gardens Manager, Sam Youd said: “We’re delighted to receive a gold medal for this year’s garden. The team have worked tremendously hard to realise this technically demanding garden – whilst making it all look effortless of course! It’s great to see and hear how well the garden is being received by the public.”

Tatton Park and Visitor Economy Manager, Brendan Flanagan said: “It is particularly significant for us to win this medal in the year that we are celebrating the centenary of the introduction of the Japanese garden. If visitors enjoy our garden at the show they should take the opportunity to come back and visit what is reputed to be the best example of a Japanese garden in Europe.”

The annual horticultural show, which regularly draws 100,000 visitors, takes place from Wednesday, July 20 to Sunday, July 24.

On Friday 22 July Tatton Park will be receiving His Excellency the Ambassador of Japan, Mr Keiichi Hayashi. The ambassador will be visiting Tatton’s show garden and planting a Maackia amurensis ‘Buergeri’ tree in memory of the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami earlier this year.

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