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Brooke Farm helps Pulp Friction grow RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden

Nottinghamshire County Council’s Brooke Farm in Linby, which runs an employment training programme for adults with learning disabilities, is playing a crucial role by helping to grow plants for a garden in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024.

Alongside their range of plants and flowers grown and sold on-site, Brooke Farm has shared space in their heated greenhouses to grow a variety of plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show exhibit. Plants include runner beans, marigolds, fennel, dwarf nasturtium and sweet rocket.

Nottingham-based Pulp Friction asked for Brooke Farm’s help because the plants need a warm environment to survive at this time of year so use of their greenhouse space has ensured enough plants can be grown for the exhibit.

The Pulp Friction ‘Growing Skills Garden’ is being entered into the All About Plants category and represents themes that are close to the heart of both organisations. Both offer skills training to adults with learning disabilities, so the project is a great opportunity for trainees to gain more gardening experience. Five trees will represent that just 5% of adults with a learning disability are currently in paid employment. All plants in the exhibit will be edible and grown using environment and animal friendly techniques.

Members of both organisations will work closely together over the next few weeks tending to the plants at Brooke Farm in preparation for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show which runs from 21 to 25 May.

Councillor Matt Barney, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “I’m delighted that our trainees at Brooke Farm have the chance to work with Pulp Friction and showcase their skills by helping to create such an important and inspirational garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.”

Brad Jones, manager at Brooke Farm, added: “We were really excited when Pulp Friction asked us if we could help them by growing some plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show here at Brooke Farm. What a great opportunity for our trainees and Pulp Friction members to work together on such a special project. We can’t wait to see the finished garden.”

Pulp Friction member Elliot is also hoping to start employment training at Brooke Farm this summer, after working in the project team. Elliot said: “I’m excited to be a part of this project growing plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, as I love gardening and it’s a great opportunity to learn more from my new colleagues at Brooke Farm.”

Beth Danks, lead gardener at Pulp Friction told us: “Everyone at Brooke Farm has been fantastic and so supportive. Without that support, we wouldn’t have been able to produce enough plants for our RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden. It’s also been so nice to see members and trainees from both our teams working together.”