Coggeshall: Couple exhibit at Chelsea Flower Show (From Braintree and Witham Times)

Coggeshall: Couple exhibit at Chelsea Flower Show

3:06pm Thursday 23rd April 2009 in News By Natasha Agombar, Chief Reporter

A PLANT nursery is planning to recreate its olive grove in miniature form at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Todd's Botanics in Coggeshall has been accepted by the Royal Horticultural Society to appear in the prestigious Royal Pavilion at next month’s show.

Owners Mark and Emma Macdonald will use two gnarled olive trees, which are hundreds of years old, and rows of young trees to mimic their olive grove back home in West Street, which has over 400 Spanish olive trees.

The display will squeeze into a space of just 7m by 6m.

Mrs MacDonald, a trained garden designer, said: “We are really chuffed to get in.”

Film cameras followed the couple around last month in preparation for the national television coverage of the flower show and will catch up with them when they get to Chelsea to build their stand.

Mr and Mrs Macdonald have been involved with stands at the show in previous years, but it is their first appearance under the Todd's Botanics banner.

The company was set up in 2004 and specialises in ancient olive trees, hardy palms, bamboo, and drought tolerant plants.