A gardening collaboration set up by Wedgwood for college students has been so successful it is returning for a second year.
Last year Wedgwood gave 30 students at Reaseheath College, in Nantwich, the chance to
work on garden spaces at the World of Wedgwood, experience the Wedgwood show
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garden build at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, as well as introducing them to gardening experts
at its headquarters in Staffordshire.
Feedback from the students was so positive, Wedgwood and Reaseheath have decided to
continue the collaboration this year focusing on Wedgwood’s show garden at Chatsworth
Flower Show 2019 designed by RHS Ambassador and horticulturalist Jamie Butterworth. In
addition, students will get to maintain Sam Oven’s relocated show garden from RHS
Chatsworth Flower Show 2017. They will also get the opportunity carry out garden
maintenance at the World of Wedgwood as well as keeping Jo Thompson’s 2018 Chelsea
Flower Show garden in tip-top condition.
Reaseheath College tutor David Black believes the experience has been priceless.
He said: “The students have gained so much from their involvement with Wedgwood.
Initially they attended a super careers event at the factory last year, learning how there is
such a strong connection between Wedgwood and the RHS. Students have also enjoyed
working in and around the previous show gardens now rebuilt at the factory, as well as
meeting with Jamie Butterworth and the show team here at the college.
“It has all helped them to realise how important horticulture is, both for the environment in
which we live, and for career opportunities. The students have said just how inspirational it
has been to meet Jamie and wonderful to be involved with Wedgwood at Chatsworth. They
also found it thought provoking to learn of Wedgwood’s involvement with the development
of the RHS.”
At the end of last year, RHS Chatsworth 2019 Wedgwood garden designer Jamie
Butterworth and his award-winning landscaping team talked students through the design
process and logistics of creating a show garden.
After an inspiring talk, Jamie enlisted their help on Wedgwood’s show garden which will be
unveiled on June 5 at the RHS’s newest show.
A group of students are now in charge of growing and tending special plants for it. They will
play a role in the build on-site, helping with the landscape construction and will work on the
garden during the show explaining its details to visitors. They will also help relocate garden
to the World of Wedgwood after the show finishes on 9 June.
Many students have been so impressed by RHS Ambassador Jamie’s achievements that their
aspirations have been fired up for growing their own careers. The fact he is just 24-years-old
has made him incredibly accessible and relatable.
Mature students Bev Williams and Toni Slater, part of the collaboration for 2018, were so
motivated and inspired by the scheme that they will now be creating their own long border
at RHS Chatsworth in June.
Bev and Toni said: “We have been so inspired through the people we have met and the
gardens we have worked on at Wedgwood – that this collaboration has given us the
confidence to take our first steps into the show garden world.
“We feel lucky to have had this opportunity and are excited about where the journey may
take us next.”
Chris Perkins, Head of the World of Wedgwood said: “Supporting education is something
we are passionate about. Our show gardens at Chelsea and Chatsworth have been designed
to celebrate craftsmanship and innovation.
“We’re thrilled that the success of last year’s collaboration has led to an even closer
partnership this year and we are grateful for the students’ help in assisting our team to keep
our gardens beautiful.
“Being able to fire up students’ imaginations by seeing what garden designers can achieve and
giving them hands-on experience at the World of Wedgwood is something we’re proud to
have supported.”
The Wedgwood Garden, designed by horticulturalist and RHS Ambassador, Jamie
Butterworth, has been inspired by RHS founder John Wedgwood’s vision of using the power
of horticulture and plants to connect people and unite communities.
Jamie has drawn inspiration from John Wedgwood’s personal garden and handpicked many
plants from his original plant journal, such as sweet peas, roses, herbs and fruit trees.
With a colour pallet that references Wedgwood’s Jasperware of rich sky blue, lush greens
and deep crimson, the garden design will be simple and scaled back to bring the planting to
the fore. This will echo John Wedgwood’s own sentiments when creating his garden which
was once described as ‘a homely and loveable space’.
The heart of the garden will feature a seating area with a substantial solid oak table created
from an oak tree that grew not far from where John Wedgwood lived in Gloucestershire.
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