Flower arrangement wins Gold for Sandra

Sandra Snell, proprietor of the Flower House based in Broad Street Ross, has won a gold medal in the 'My Space' Floral arrangement category at Chelsea Flower Show.

Sandra has applied to display at Chelsea before. However, it wasn't until a couple of weeks before the event that she was offered a place. A busy period of activity followed resulting in her winning entry, 'My world of flowers', a confection of texture and colour. Sandra was "absolutely amazed" at the result, which can be seen on display - with gold certificate - in her window.

A place of change

Young people from the Ross Foyer project, which helps deal with homelessness and other issues, were thrilled to be part of a team that was awarded a silver gilt medal at the Chelsea Flower Show.

They were part of the Eden Project 'Places of Change' garden, the biggest show garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year. Between 300 and 500 homeless people contrubuted to the garden and have been involved in planting, gardening, design, construction, and carpentry during the site development.

The project breaks down the stereotypes about homeless people by demonstrating to the general public and commerce that homeless people have talents and potential and should not be written off by society. It has also helped people develop new skills that will enable them to move onto further training and qualifications, and turn their lives around long-term.

Homeless Link has created a 3D virtual version of the garden on Second Life, which will allow visitors of the show as well as those who are unable to visit in person, a fuller and more interactive experience of the ideas and inspiration behind the garden, and the stories of those who created it.

The young people that went to the Chelsea Flower Show from Ross Foyer where Kelvin Preece, Kerry Allen and Bobby Donaldson with project workers Tracey Brumwell and James Robertson.

Kelvin told The Ross Gazette: "I really enjoyed it but it was hard work and it's one of the best things I've ever done. Also it was my first time in London so going round looking at all the famous buildings was wicked to.

Bobby added that : "It was a once in a life experience."

Lots of other people were involved in the design but were not able to go to Chelsea, they were Jason Scotford, Lauren Homer, Jade Price, Josh Price, Pete Donaldson, Shona Craddock, James Dennerley, Carl Burge and Gareth Truscott

This ambitious project was a major collaboration between several key partners: the Homes and Communities Agency, Homeless Link, the Eden Project, and Communities and Local Government. Designed by Eden's award-winning garden designer Paul Stone, the garden is being funded by CLG and the HCA's Places of Change programme – an £80m capital funding programme that aims to bring about a change in the way homeless services are perceived and challenge stereotypes around homelessness.