Florists' silver success

8:40am Wednesday 30th July 2008

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THERE was a fairytale ending to the floral design competition at RHS Tatton Flower Show when florists from Reaseheath College in Nantwich earned the silver gilt award for their exhibit.

The florists created a bed for Sleeping Beauty using English flowers to tie in with Cheshire’s Year of Gardens 08.

Reaseheath’s florists have won top medals at the show for the past five years.

Head of Floristry June Shallcross said: “We were delighted to receive one of the top medals in our section.

“Entering prestigious shows like RHS Tatton allows us to show the public how exciting and rewarding floristry can be.”

Three talented Reaseheath students also came under the spotlight during the national finals of the WorldSkills UK floristry competition.

Sarah McLoughlin, Chrissie Sevenoaks and Stephanie Forrest were among the 16 top scorers in the country to qualify, with Sarah finally clinching silver in the intermediate section.

Although out of the final medals in the advanced section, Chrissie and Stephanie were filmed as they worked against the clock to complete five floral designs.

The footage, with presenter Rachel de Thame, was included in the Gardener’s World show coverage on Friday evening.

All three completed six intense hours of competition watched by international judges and the public.

Simon Bartley, chief executive of WorldSkills UK said: “This has been an outstanding competition featuring the best of British young florists.

“We as a country are having to compete in an increasingly global world and this type of exciting competition is a good way of raising standards and showing that we can compare with the best.”

Former Reaseheath floristry student Natalie Stanyer, recognised as being the fourth best young florist in the world after representing the UK at the WorldsSkills final in Japan, also demonstrated designs at the show in front of an extremely knowledgeable audience.