Monkton garden centre scoops award for insect-friendly garden (From This is The West Country)

Monkton garden centre scoops award for insect-friendly garden

11:30am Tuesday 16th August 2011 in News

STAFF from Monkton Elm Garden and Pet Centre were celebrating recently after scooping a large gold award for their insect-friendly garden at the 2011 Taunton Flower Show.

The garden centre won the prize after designing a garden aimed at raising awareness of the importance of insects.

Andrew Pitman, Plant Manager at Monkton Elm Garden and Pet Centre, which is located at Monkton Heathfield, said: “We are delighted to have been presented with a large gold award for our insect-friendly garden.

“The theme of the garden was a nectar bar for insects with a strapline 'have a drink on us'. The idea was to increase the awareness of the need to use plants that are good for butterflies, bees and other insects.

“We also wanted to show that these plants are wonderfully attractive in their own right.

“The garden included tiles with insects painted on them. These were created recently by children at a workshop held at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre. We would like to thank all the youngsters who painted a tile and contributed to the success of the garden.

“The garden also included a bar for humans where we served samples of apple juice from Somerset-based company, The Orchard Pig.

“We hope people enjoyed their apple juice as much as the insects enjoyed their nectar.”