Horticulturist 'buzzing' after gifting King seeds

Joshua Askew
BBC News, South East
Ollie Dixon Two people gather around an man in a pinstripe suit. Ollie Dixon
King Charles received the gift at the Chelsea Flower Show

A Kent award-winning horticulturist says she is "absolutely buzzing" after handing King Charles some seeds at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Charlotte Denne, of Kent Wildflower Seeds in Wye, near Ashford, met the monarch after scooping a gold medal at Chelsea.

She said she gave the King, who visited her exhibit during a visit to the garden show, a bag of specifically designed Kent wildflower seeds.

"It's an honour to know that someone so committed to the environment will enjoy seeing our wildflowers come into bloom," Ms Denne said.

"It was a real honour to know that our display had been chosen for His Majesty The King to see during his tour of the show," she said.

"It was really good to speak to him, knowing that he is an advocate of native British flora and wildflowers.

"He commented on how many species we had in flower," Ms Denne continued.

Ollie Dixon A pretty display of wildflowers at a show. Ollie Dixon
Kent Wildflower Seeds can trace its origins back to the 19th Century

She said: "We are absolutely buzzing to have been awarded a gold medal for our first floral display at Chelsea.

"We are so thrilled that the judges enjoyed our scheme which seamlessly integrated wildflowers into a traditional cottage garden display," added Ms Denne.

Kent Wildflower Seeds, which says it started in 1879, is part of the Plant Fairs Roadshow (PFR) collective.

Three other PFR members were awarded silver gilt medals at Chelsea, namely the Kent branch of the Hardy Plant Society, East Sussex-based nursery Pelham Plants and Miles Japanese Maples from Storrington, West Sussex.

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.