A COLLEGE has blossomed at the Chelsea Flower Show, scooping first prize.

Wellington College won a coveted gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017 with its entry “Wellington College Breaking Ground Garden, sponsored by Darwin Property.”

Designed by Andrew Wilson and Gavin McWilliam of leading garden design practice, Wilson McWilliam Studio, Breaking Ground is inspired by the College’s bold ambition to break down the barriers to an independent education.

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Wellington College lower 6 music students playing on the garden on the opening day (May 22). Pictures: Richard Young.

Andrew Wilson, landscape designer said: “A Gold garden at Chelsea takes a dream team – and that includes everyone involved in its creation, from the plant suppliers, the contractors and the 200 children that participated in its creation. We’re over the moon.”

The college explained the idea behind Breaking Ground is to make it possible for more young and gifted people to receive a life-changing education regardless of their financial situation.

The design is also inspired by the significant reduction in Berkshire heathland with references to the original, bleak heathland landscape into which Wellington College was established in the 1850s.

A central feature of the garden is the series of monumental, steel structures – the ‘disappearing walls’ to accessing education.

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Throughout the garden there are continuous references to learning, with an ornamental meadow featuring planting that explodes with sparking umbels and dramatic flower and plant forms that echo synaptic events and trains of thought.

This is the fourth garden that Andrew Wilson and Gavin McWilliam have designed at the globally renowned RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

On the win Anthony Esse, founder of CEO of Darwin Property said: “Andrew and Gavin interpreted our brief absolutely perfectly. Winning a Gold Medal at Chelsea is the fantastic recognition we need to increase awareness around the College’s exciting mission in social transformation.”