Guernsey Press

President’s Award and gold for clematis grower

AFTER 61 years of attending the Chelsea Flower Show, Guernsey’s own Raymond Evison Clematis has won the coveted President’s Award for the most outstanding exhibition within the Great Pavilion.

Published
Guernsey’s Raymond Evison Clematis has won the coveted President’s Award for the most outstanding exhibition at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The team also claimed a gold medal, the 31st for Mr Evison. (30008515)

It was a double accolade this year for the Guernsey growing team, having taken the gold yesterday for the display of 30,000 purple, lilac, pink and white Clematis blooms and 2,500 flowers.

‘People have been so complimentary about our exhibit and to be awarded both the gold and the President’s Award is a massive achievement from our whole team,’ Mr Evison said.

He explained that the flowers were prepared and ready for May before the event was set back to September.

‘Our Guernsey team grew the plants and then cut them right down to 6-7 centimetres, removed all the foliage, and put them in cold storage ready to be revived for the later exhibition.

‘We are absolutely delighted with this year’s success – jolly tired too. I came to the Chelsea Flower Show as a boy of 16 and to win so well this year – 61 years later – is just extraordinary.’

Mr Evison and his team are not too tired to do it all again.

He said work had already started with plants already growing for the show in May 2022.

‘We have had worldwide media coverage, which is fantastic publicity for our business but also fantastic for the island of Guernsey.’