A bench crafted in the workshop at Guernsey charity Grow will form part of a display at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show later this month.
Guernsey Clematis celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
When Raymond Evison CBE heard that Grow is also 40 years old he asked them to make a bench to include on his display stand at the globally-recognised annual flower show: “I’ve always been a supporter of Grow and the work they do to enrich the lives of adults with learning disabilities. So to jointly commemorate our longevity I asked them to create a bench in their fully-equipped workshop to feature on our Chelsea stand.”
Tom Rowe, Grow’s Workshop Lead took on the project and selected iroko hardwood to construct the bench which was completed with help from members of the Crew. He said: “I used iroko, which is also known as African teak, because it is incredibly durable and relatively easy to work with.”
Over the years thousands of people have visited the Guernsey Clematis stand in the Grand Pavilion to admire the intricate displays of over 2,000 plants. This year visitors will be invited to sit on Grow’s bench, with its backdrop of flowering clematis tumbling behind it, to take ‘selfies’ as a memento of their visit.
A plaque designed and painted by Juliet Martel, who works at the Guernsey Clematis vinery, will feature on the bench which will have a 40th birthday inscription. The plaque’s design includes three Clematis Guernsey Flute flowers, one of two new clematis varieties to be launched at the Show.. Miss Martel’s artistic talents were recognised while she worked at Grow as a member of the Crew. Her hand-drawn paintings of Spring flowers adorns Grow’s milk churn honesty box in their greenhouse.
“It is a real pleasure to take a Grow creation to Chelsea thanks to the talents of both Tom Lowe and Juliet Martel,” said Mr Evison. “After the Show I plan to lend the bench to Grow during this celebratory year so that visitors to their Centre can enjoy sitting on it.”
