Cotehele gardening volunteers are winners

The Cotehele gardening volunteers have won the 'Cornwall Today Volunteers Cup 2016’ at the spring flower show in Boconnac, Cornwall.

"This award is thoroughly deserved for the volunteers’ tremendous efforts in creating the Christmas dried flower garland here at Cotehele", says Chris Groves, Senior Gardener at the National Trust house, garden and estate in South-East Cornwall.

Building the annual Christmas garland takes ten months of preparation and two full weeks for Cotehele’s 30 volunteers. The decoration forms the Christmas centrepiece of the estate’s Tudor hall. The volunteers need patience, skill, co-operation, perseverance as well as a passion for horticulture. 

The Boconnac spring flower show is an annual showcase for the best in Cornish horticulture organised by Cornwall Garden Society

Photo Caption: Three of Cotehele’s gardening volunteers display their trophy. Left to right: Trisha Hilton, John Moxom, John Bywaters

CREDIT: National Trust / Tish Valva