Hooksgreen Herbs Brings Peter Rabbit to Life for RHS Chelsea.

Following their Silver Gilt medal at Chelsea and a Gold at Hampton Court this year, Staffordshire growers Hooksgreen Herbs has joined forces with the internationally recognised The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction to create a very special stand in the Grand Pavilion at Chelsea 2014.

Malcolm Dickson, formed Hooksgreen Herbs 20 years ago, and his wife Susie, son Thomas and daughter-in-law Jane all work at the farm growing and marketing one of the widest ranges herbs available anywhere in Britain.

“The real inspiration for the garden, however, are my grandchildren, William and Annabel, who have been living with Susie and me for the past nine months, They both love the Peter Rabbit and other Beatrix Potter stories. We were enjoying reading about Mr McGregor and his garden, and our Chelsea garden idea emerged from this experience,” says Malcolm.

The Hooksgreen team and The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction worked with gold medal garden designer Richard Lucas to create the 8m x 4m stand which is based on some of the original drawings from the books.

“We are even now busy growing all the herbs, vegetables, wild flowers and other plants needed for the display. There are, of course, some specials like the red flowering “Lipstick” strawberry and Peter’s favourite “Long Scarlet” radish, which looks like a carrot. We will even have the famous blue door and the espalier trees growing against the classic Cumbrian walls,” adds Thomas Dickson.

Some of the other features from the books, like the rabbit ears peeping out of an old watering can and the traditional garden tools and wheel barrow, will also feature on the stand along with Mr McGregor’s rather tired greenhouse.

“People of all ages love these books and remember the drawings and illustrations. Our stand will bring all those images to life,” says Malcolm.

Click here to watch a video of Tom talking about preparing the plants for Chelsea