Moorcroft pottery is centrepiece of exhibit at Tatton Park Flower Show

A UNIQUE piece of artwork has been used as the centrepiece of a display at a prestigious horticultural show.

Moorcroft pottery is taking part in the Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) Flower Show for the first time.

GRAND DESIGNS: Clockwise, from top left, Moorcroft designers Emma Bossons, Nicola Slaney, Kerry Goodwin and Rachel Bishop in The Moorcroft Natural Woman Garden. Top right, Carol Adams and a view of Reaseheath College's Metamorphosis garden. Middle, Alison Wainwright with Newcastle council's Fred Kite Remembered entry. Bottom, a bee enjoys the show and Lord Mayor Derek Capey admires the city council's Let Me Entertain You entry. Bottom right, Eric Knowles. Pictures: Cara Edgington

Staff at the Burslem-based company have created The Moorcroft Natural Woman Garden, which was designed by Blue Tulip Garden Design.

The centrepiece of its sunken circular oak flooring is a handmade Moorcroft ceramic plaque – designed by the company's four female designers – which was inspired by the plants, flowers and wildlife in the garden.

Louise Harrison-Holland, who set up Blue Tulip Garden Design, said: “I'm a member of the Ladies Circle, which has five interlocking circles as its logo.

“I thought it would be a perfect shape in the garden.

“It's a glamorous and practical garden, and I'm very pleased with how it looks.”

Moorcroft senior designer Rachel Bishop said: “It looks gorgeous. It's a very feminine garden, and very lovely.”

Antiques expert Eric Knowles was present at the display at Tatton Park yesterday, and was full of admiration for Moorcroft's entry in the Back To Back Gardens category.

He said: “I want to take it back to Buckinghamshire with me.

“This is a Moorcroft Nirvana – it is so wonderful.”

Several other organisations from Staffordshire and Cheshire are also taking part in the RHS show this week, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Students at Nantwich-based Reaseheath College designed and built a children's butterfly garden called Metamorphosis.

It has been specially created to encourage youngsters to explore the lifestyle of British butterflies and moths.

Interactive displays of butterflies in various stages of development are on show alongside the garden, among plants specially selected to provide food, shelter and moisture.

The garden was awarded the silver gilt medal.

Garden design lecturer Carol Adams said: “We have created a brightly coloured space to encourage children to enjoy and interact with nature. We hope it will inspire schools, nurseries and parents to include an area in their garden where children can enjoy conserving butterflies and beneficial insects.”

Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Newcastle Borough Council have both submitted entries in the Flower Bed category. Newcastle's Fred Kite Remembered celebrates the life of a Second World War soldier who was born in the town, and won three medals for bravery. It depicts a crusader tank which was used in the African desert.

One of the designers, Mick Cook, said: “It gets harder every year to come up with ideas related to Newcastle, but we wanted to pay tribute to Sergeant Kite.” Stoke-on-Trent City Council's entry has been inspired by the Potteries' entertainment heritage.

Landscape architect Dawn Mayer, one of the designers of Let Us Entertain You, said: “It's all about trying to promote the city.”