FLORISTRY students from a Nantwich college helped build a floral arch for the Queen’s 90th birthday.

A team of floristry students and staff from Reaseheath College helped prepare and install a floral arch to welcome The Queen as she arrived at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The arch, a gift to the Queen on her 90th birthday, was at the iconic Bull Ring entrance on the bank of the River Thames.

The make-over of the famous gates was led by royal floral designer Shane Connolly, who invited Reaseheath College students to become part of the build.

Clare Street, Lee Law, Sophie Garratt and Abi Rowley, accompanied by course managers Fiona Davies and Helen Cooke, spent a day preparing and conditioning the floral materials in New Covent Garden flower market.

Fiona and Helen returned to London the following day to join Shane’s team of 30 volunteers as they worked through the night constructing the arch from British blooms.

Shane, who holds a Royal Warrant of Appointment to the Queen and the Prince of Wales, said: “I was honoured and delighted to be asked to design this archway for the Queen’s birthday.

“I wanted it to showcase the beauty and range of British grown plants and flowers and the skills of the British flower and plant growers.

“Having students of floral design to help install it provided the icing on the cake.”

It was a memorable occasion all round for Reaseheath students at the world’s most prestigious gardening event.

The Nantwich college’s Level 3 Diploma in Floristry student team came runner-up for the second consecutive year in the RHS Chelsea Floristry College of the Year, a national competition open to all colleges and training institutions.

Carol Edginton, Robyn Longden, Jackie Tudor and Shiona Fosh, were also awarded a silver-gilt medal for their spectacular interpretation of a Brazilian carnival.

“This was the experience of a lifetime,” Carol said. “The atmosphere was unbelievable and we were all so proud to be actually taking part at Chelsea.”

Just four marks separated Reaseheath’s entry from those of the eventual winner, with the judges praising the exhibit’s excellent colouring, individual elements and beautiful workmanship.

The stand, a riot of vibrant yellow, pink and orange flowers with a mannequin as its centrepiece, continued to ‘wow’ thousands of visitors throughout the week.

The students spent three days at the world’s most prestigious gardening event, which was attended by HM The Queen, other members of the royal family and many celebrities.

Sue Poole, Reaseheath College’s head of Floristry, said: “I am very proud of the way the team pulled together to create their display and delighted that the quality of their work was recognised by such highly regarded judges.

“The students did an amazing job considering they were performing to world-class standards. They were also fantastic ambassadors for the college.”