Birmingham City Council claims an eighth successive Gold at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019, with its Veolia-supported display wowing visitors at the prestigious London event.
The council, in partnership with RHS ambassador Baroness Floella Benjamin and backing from Veolia, which designs and provides water, waste and energy management solutions that contribute to the sustainable development of communities and industries, produced a work of art to highlight the challenges facing our environment – while paying tribute to Birmingham’s famous canal network.
The Floella’s Future display – on show at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019, and then moving to Birmingham in June – highlights the 500 parks throughout the city, with 3D printed models of volunteers, workers and community helpers.
Central to the exhibit is a three metre head, made from more than 3000 tubes symbolising single-use straws, raising awareness of the unnecessary use of plastic. The head drinking water from a disposable cup with a plastic straw highlights the concern of micro-plastics in the food chain. The giant foot hovering over the display reminds visitors of our carbon footprints.
The exhibit also reveals the average contents of a household rubbish bin – 525,000 tonnes of pots, tubs and trays are disposed of each year.
As a nod to this to Birmingham’s 35-mile network of canals, the garden also looks at the potential uses for the canal system and focuses on our use of water, not least how we can conserve this natural resource.
Donald Macphail, Veolia’s Midland Director, says: “Veolia is delighted and proud to be sponsoring and supporting the award-winning display.
“The exhibit goes hand in hand with Veolia’s values on recycling and resource efficiency. I congratulate everyone involved with this wonderful project.”
Darren Share, Acting Assistant Director of Streetscene and Birmingham Assistant Director for Birmingham City Council, adds: “Birmingham City Council are delighted to have the support of Veolia to help us produce this important display that underlines the societal and environmental challenges of 2019, while showcasing the unique appeal of our second city.”
Iconic TV presenter Baroness Benjamin has been instrumental in her working career in education and sustainability. As ambassador of the RHS, we are delighted she is the figurehead of this display.