A GARDEN designed by a Nottingham Trent University student has picked up a top award at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Jackie Setchfield entered her version of a 1950s Hebridean weaver's garden at the world-famous show.
It was one of four 5x4m gardens entered into the artisan section of the centenary show, with Jackie's being voted the best and picking up a gold award.
"I'm overjoyed," she told the Post from the show. "I don't think it will properly sink in for a couple of months.
"It has made all of the hard work seem worth it. It is a fantastic honour to win this award."
Students from across the university's horticulture courses helped to develop the "Motor Neurone Disease – A Hebridean Weaver's Garden" with Jackie, who is studying a foundation degree in garden design.
The show, which started on Tuesday, runs until Saturday.
Jackie visited the area to gain inspiration for her design.
It depicted a garden on the Isle of Lewis, brimming with dye plants. The garden was intended to be a nostalgic look back to an arduous way of life for the tight-knit communities in the 1950s.
As well as a blackhouse structure, it includes a spinning wheel, dye pot and a range of dye plants available in the middle of the last century.
There is a stream – or burn – with small waterfalls, along with wetland plants, wildflowers such as foxgloves and tufted vetch, as well as heathers, ferns, a tree and a small kitchen garden growing potatoes, onions and cabbages.
Jackie also worked with Motor Neurone Disease Association co-founder Martin Anderson on the design. It was created to help raise awareness of the charity.
Mr Anderson said: "I feel exhausted, elated and stunned. You always hope for gold but never know until you open the envelope. It is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved, especially with the weather being against us this year at every stage."
Carol Wright, a senior lecturer in horticulture at Nottingham Trent University, said: "Everyone who has been involved is thrilled to have achieved a gold medal. The whole team have worked so hard to meet all the challenges involved and it is fantastic to get such a good result."
Jackie added: "The award was announced on Tuesday morning before I even arrived. So I got there to a nice surprise."
