Horticulturalist wins 35th Chelsea gold

Guernsey horticulturalist Raymond Evison has won his 35th gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for his clematis display.

Mr Evison, 81 who also won gold in 2024, said it was "really exciting" to win again and to put the island on the map, but added it was "very much a team effort".

His garden was named the best exhibit in the great pavilion, which Mr Evison said was a "tremendous honour".

"It was very unexpected and was all a big surprise, we are all very excited," he added.

Mr Evison won 15 consecutive golds at Chelsea for exhibits of clematis cultivars between 2003 and 2017.

He said the exhibit this year was 140 square meters and included an imaginary Guernsey sea shore scene with 10 boats floating on waves of blue and white clematis.

He added the stern of every boat included the words "Guernsey" and each was filled with brightly coloured flowers.

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