A Ribble Valley plant nursery is on a winning streak after scooping a gold award for the ninth consecutive time at a prestigious flower show.
Holden Clough Nurseries, in Bolton by Bowland, won the highest accolade from the Southport Flower Show, a ‘Large Gold’ award, as well as a trophy for ‘the finest exhibit of hardy plants’.
After a two year break Southport Flower Show returned with the industry's best horticulturists competing for the top spots.
The Holden Clough show team led by John Foley, Kate Foley, Alli Croft, and Jane Coultherd, created a ‘quintessential English courtyard’ that captured the perfectly curated wildness of flowers that has become known as The Holden Clough house style.
Flowers selected to feature at the show included: Monarda Beauty of Cobham, Verbena Bonariensis, Hydrangea Limelight, Leucanthemum Old Court, Hosta Francee, Nepeta ‘Walkers Low’, a variety of Echinacea plants, Verelia Queen Victoria, Ferns, Helianthus Tuberosus, Kalimeris Charlotte, and Bay Trees.
This is the ninth consecutive year that Holden Clough has won Gold at Southport Flower Show with ambitions to make it 10 next year.
John said: “It’s great to be at Southport Flower Show after the break, it feels very positive and adds another important date back into the horticultural calendar for us.
“To receive a gold medal the first year back fills us with joy and gives recognition to our team that work so hard to tend to every detail that has carried us over the line to the win.
“A theme this year has been show preparation in the extreme heat and we have risen to the challenge!”
Holden Clough doesn't grow plants inside Polytunnels or Greenhouses, instead choosing to grow them outside in ‘the growing field’.
Open to the natural elements such as the Spring frosts, and Lancashire’s wind and rain, helping them to get used to the natural climate and local weather.
This helps to ensure that they thrive when purchased and planted at home by customers. “If it grows at Holden Clough, It’ll grow anywhere," the nursery joked.
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