An Englishman's Retreat - people's favourite at Ellerslie

An Englishman’s Retreat by multi award-winning designer Chris Beardshaw is the people’s favourite exhibit at this year’s Ellerslie International Flower Show.

The Gold medal award-winning garden has won the People’s Choice Award sponsored by Tui Products. An Englishman’s Retreat is the largest ever exhibition garden in the 15-year history of the Ellerslie Flower Show.

It stretches 12 metres across the shore of Victoria Lake and extends 64 metres into the showgrounds, with more than 10,000 plants, including 4500 annuals and 3000 herbaceous plants. The magnificent English garden has loads of colour and plenty of fragrance, making it a real feast for all the senses.

Don Forgie of Tui Products said: “This is the real award of the Show; it is the one which the visitors have told us they relate to and love”.

The Great North and South Landscape Build-Off
The North Island won the inaugural The Great North and South Landscape Build-Off.

Organised by Landscaping New Zealand, the North Island and South Island landscaping competition is a garden of two halves, separated by the Cook Strait (a water feature) which showcases the value of design, best trade practices, garden management and good environmental landscaping practice.

Competition was fierce with the North Island winning by just seven points.

The Ellerslie International Flower Show continues in Christchurch’s North Hagley Park until 6pm on Sunday.