16/06/2008
Mr Roscoe's garden at Bluecoat
The exhibit which won Liverpool a silver medal at last month's RHS Chelsea Flower Show is going on public display.
Mr Roscoe's Garden will be on show in the garden of the Bluecoat, Liverpool, between June 19 and 22, allowing the public an opportunity to enjoy some of Liverpool Botanical Collection's most precious plants and flowers.
Liverpool's appearance at the 2008 Chelsea Flower Show - the city's first in nearly 40 years - was a key part of the Fragrant project, a major commission for European Capital of Culture 2008 led by artist Jyll Bradley. The Liverpool Culture Company commissioned Jyll to work as 'artist in residence' at the city's Botanical Collection during 2007 and 2008 to uncover its 200-year-old history for the first time. Fragrant will culminate in September with the publication of a special book and accompanying photographic exhibition by Jyll Bradley at Liverpool's Walker Art Gallery.
Councillor Berni Turner, Liverpool city council's executive member for the environment, said: "Liverpool's success at Chelsea was a tremendous coup for the city, especially after such a long absence from the show.
"The city's Botanical Collection is one of the largest in civic hands but many people - even in Liverpool - are unaware of what an amazing asset it is.
"This will be a great opportunity for people to see one of the true jewels in Liverpool's crown on display, and it is particularly fitting that such an important piece of the city's history will appear in the grounds of one of our oldest buildings."
Mr Roscoe's Garden was inspired by William Roscoe, who founded Liverpool's Botanical Collection in 1803. Acknowledged as one of the city's greatest sons, Roscoe's passion for plants ensured that Liverpool's Botanical Collection acquired international significance.
Dave Kelly from Liverpool city council's Parks and Environment Service is the project manager for Mr Roscoe's Garden. He said: "The project team is tremendously proud of their achievements, and rightly so; not only have they achieved an award from the most prestigious horticultural show in the world, they have also given recognition to one of our most important sons and our great city in our European Capital of Culture year."
Following the Bluecoat, Mr Roscoe's Garden will continue its tour of the north west, visiting the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park, Cheshire between July 23 and 27; and Southport Flower Show between August 21 - 24.
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