Gateshead's Northumbrian Water baby for Chelsea

13/04/2007

The precious nature of water will be the theme of Gateshead's Chelsea Flower Show entry, with a giant globe the centrepiece of its environmental theme. Gateshead Council has teamed up with Northumbrian Water to develop the garden which will use a large water feature to represent the melting of the polar ice caps.

The overall concept will be that water is precious - for health, for wealth and for life itself.

This is the first part of a two-year deal that will see Northumbrian Water sponsor gardens produced by Gateshead Council's Local Environmental Services for the Chelsea show.

This years' garden is based on three split-level circles representing health, wealth and life itself with a stream running through the entire plot.

Each garden will have distinct features to represent the theme, so the health section will use medicinal plants, the wealth section will be planted with luxurious flowers and the life area will be full of edible plants.

All three areas will be surrounded by an arid desert, symbolising the dangers of climate change and highlighting the way water is wasted in the modern world.

Alistair Baker, Northumbrian Water's Communications and PR Manager, said: "Water is vital for life, health and wealth and it is also a precious key ingredient for gardening.

"It is great that this seed of an idea has taken root and grown into a blooming two-year creative partnership between Northumbrian Water and Gateshead Council - two of the leading private and public organisations in the North East."

Steve Bramwell, Gateshead's Group Director for Community Based Services, said: "We're delighted to be working with Northumbrian Water on such an exciting project. The flower show entry will be an excellent garden, but it also conveys a serious message about the environment.

"Our horticultural employees are carefully working and planning to develop this exhibit and I look forward to hearing the reaction of Chelsea judges and local people," he said.

ENDS

Media Contacts:
Ross Wigham at Gateshead Council: (0191) 4332024 or email: rosswigham@gateshead.gov.uk <mailto:rosswigham@gateshead.gov.uk>

Notes to editors

1. Chelsea Flower Show takes place between 22-26 May 2007

2. Gateshead Council's winning heritage at Chelsea:

Gold Medal
1999 - 'RNLI Display' 

Silver Medals 
1988 - 'Courtyard Garden'
1990 - 'National Garden Festival Prism'
1992 - 'The Ferris Wheel'
1993 - 'Tall Ship'
1994 - 'Butterfly and Caterpillar'
1996 - 'Greening Our Industrial Heritage'
1998 - Double Silver for 'The Angel and Beyond' and 'The Street Garden (by Garden Art)'
2000 - 'Gateshead Quays' (Silver Gilt) 
2001 - 'The Red Carpet'
2002 - 'Capital of Culture'  
2003 - 'Gateshead, yesterday, today and tomorrow'

Ross Wigham
Communications
Chief Executive's Department,
Gateshead Council,
Civic Centre, Regent Street,
Gateshead, NE8 1HH.
Phone: 0191 433 2024
www.gateshead.gov.uk