There will be a taste of the Yorkshire
Dales at the Chelsea Flower Show this year on a
stand which celebrates some of the most enduring
features of the rural way of life.
Stone drinking troughs and mill stones, now in
demand by gardeners as distinctive planters and
water features, will be the theme of the Original
Stone Troughs stand.
For Rachel Adams, who is exhibiting for the first
time at Chelsea, the show represents a major landmark
in the development of her business. This began
five years ago as a hobby and has flourished as
a specialised supplier of garden antiques.
"This is a wonderful opportunity to show
how the troughs can transfonn gardens and courtyards
through imaginative planting or by using them
as interesting water features," said Rachel.
Many of the troughs are more than 150 years old
and have weathered beautifully over the decades.
Some have been smoothed around the edges by livestock
rubbing against them and others have developed a rich covering of moss and lichen.
The aim of the Chelsea stand will be to recreate
a tranquil courtyard setting. Pride of place will
go to two antique stone lions at the entrance,
leading toward arrangements of troughs containing
grasses and flowers. Larger troughs will be used
to create water features, whilst mill stones in
various sizes will be used for paving and decorative
purposes.
At the heart of the stand will be a patio area
with specially chosen hand crafted garden furniture
made from "green oak". The timbers incorporate
natural "splits and shakes" which give
it a distinctive, rustic quality.
Through her network of farming contacts in Yorkshire,
Derbyshire and Cumbria, Rachel is able to source
millstone grit and sandstone troughs in lengths
from two feet to 11 feet. She can also supply
mill stones, mushroom shaped "staddle
stones", antique bird baths and garden statues.
More than 50 examples of troughs and other items
can be seen on the Original Stone Troughs web
site at www.stonetroughs.co.uk |
