News

Caerphilly scoops gold with sizzling salsa display

(24.04.2007)

Caerphilly county borough council has scooped top prize at this year’s Royal Horticultural Society show with its environmentally-friendly ‘Salsa Garden’ display.

The council’s Parks Service impressed judges at the RHS Spring flower show in Cardiff and received the highest accolades of a Gold Award and ‘Best in Show’.

With long hot summers set to stay, the Salsa Garden, designed by Steve Trew and John Ridgewell, celebrated the sun with a Latin accent. Influenced by the imagery of the Navajo and Pueblo Native American Indians, the garden evokes the flavour and vitality of the Spanish-speaking world. Original Native Indian architectural concepts were interwoven into a contemporary design based around large water storage tanks adapted as seating.

Steve and John used recycled materials, drought tolerant plants and water conservation features to create a sustainable outdoor space. Designed to inspire, the garden tackles the issue of climate change, with a harmonious vision of a life in tune with nature.

“I’d like to congratulate the team on this fantastic achievement, “ said cabinet member Cllr David Hardacre, “The implications of climate change are a concern to us all, so the sustainable nature of this year’s display obviously struck a chord with the judges and reflects our commitment to help to protect our environment in the future.”

Having impressed the RHS judges, Steve and John have now been invited to re-create the garden at the ‘Gardeners World Live’ Show in Birmingham later this year.