Date: 18 April 2005
Originally published in: News & Star (UK)
Written by: Ross Brewster
Former rock star Kim Wilde has chosen green slate from Honister Slate Mine in Borrowdale to adorn her Cumbrian Fellside Garden, which will be exhibited at Chelsea Flower Show next month.
Pop star turned gardener Kim has been to Brantwood, Coniston, the home of John Ruskin, to discuss the showpiece Cumbrian Garden, which she created alongside Richard Lucas, head gardener of the Lakeside Hotel, Newby Bridge.
She took the opportunity of a whistle-stop tour of some of the county’ s finest gardens before going up to the top of Honister Pass, where the mine is being successfully operated by local enthusiast Mark Weir to choose some special slate.
Kim’s visit coincided with the launch of Cumbria Tourist Board’s guide, The Gardens, Parks and Wildlife of Cumbria the Lake District. The Cumbrian Garden will go on show to the public for the first time at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show from May 25 to 28.
Kim said: “Gardens designed by people like William Wordsworth at Rydal Mount, and John Ruskin at Brantwood are at one with nature and the surrounding countryside. It is the stunning scenery and the beautiful gardens in Cumbria that inspired me to design a garden for the Chelsea Flower Show.”
