Chelsea Flower Show gold prize for Sparsholt College after students teamed up with Wadworth brewery to produce The Hop Cycle

Sparsholt College students teamed up with Wadworth brewery to produce The Hop Cycle – containing an abundance of different coloured plants and creepers – which earned them a gold medal at the much-coveted Chealsea Flower Show on Tuesday (MAY 19).

It is the second consecutive year the college has won such an accolade, which this year also saw them handed the Best Discovery Exhibit prize.

Lecturer Chris Bird, who led the student team, said: “RHS Chelsea is this country’s most prestigious flower show so for our students to come here and win both a gold medal and Best Discovery Exhibit is an incredible achievement.

"They have had to work incredibly hard for the honour but their huge efforts have reaped them the ultimate prize.

"As horticulturalists embarking on their professional career there can be no greater stepping stone than RHS Chelsea Gold.

"We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Wadworth this year, seeing how one of the country’s most popular leisure pursuits starts life in our world of horticulture.”

The garden contained two display areas, one planted with species that make or flavour drinks, and the other a pub garden to relax in.

"It even had a water feature complete with foaming ‘beer’ and an original 1880 penny farthing on loan from the Hampshire Cultural Trust.

Sponsor Wadworth donated a painted pub sign for the garden.

The college has enjoyed a long and successful history at the show since 1998, achieving a total of now seven gold medals, three silver-gilt, four silver and three bronze.