Flowers will bloom in drought conditions

09/05/2008

A GARDEN designed to beat drought conditions is Southend's entry at this year's Hampton Court Flower Show.

Council staff are working with Metal, the arts organisation based at Chalkwell Hall, in Chalkwell Park, to create the garden.

The project is designed to help the environment and uses drought tolerant plants as well as showing how to grow plants with minimal water.

advertisementPaul Jenkinson, from Southend Council, said: "Producing vegetables at home or at an allotment is very rewarding and can also help reduce your impact on the environment.

"We won a silver award in the show garden category at Hampton Court last year, so we already have a lot to live up to.

"Our team's hotly topical entry this year tackles climate change and uses drought-tolerant planting.

"By combining these plants with vegetables requiring little water, the garden shows how to grow food with minimal water use."

The garden is one of the first projects Metal has been involved with since it came to Southend last year.

Managing director Colette Bailey said: "The garden will show the benefits of working in partnership, sharing ideas and finding creative ways to talk about the future of both the planet and the town.

"It has been fantastic to work with the knowledge and commitment of the parks team and I am really looking forward to seeing the finished garden in July."

John Devall, Essex and Suffolk Water's operations director said: "We supply water in a region which typically receives lower than average rainfall.

"This garden will help demonstrate how you can use water wisely and at the same time produce what we hope will be a prize- winning result."

Work is due to start on the garden today.

It will be built in Southend and then taken to the flower show, which takes place in July.

7:00am Friday 9th May 2008

Echo - www.echo-news.co.uk