The Dry Stone Walling Association (DSWA) has presented one of its Pinnacle Awards for exemplary walling at the One World Garden in Hylands Estate, in Chelmsford, Essex, using Welsh Blue Pennant for the walling.
The garden was designed by Lyn McLay-Kidd and Brian Royden-Hall from the Chelmsford Borough Council’s Parks & Heritage department.
Andrew Loudon, a local DSWA Master Craftsman, and two of his colleagues, Jim Hanson and Max Nowell, carried out the work.
Lord Cavendish of Furness, owner of Burlington Slate and President of the DSWA, presented the Pinnacle Award at the Holker Garden Festival, Cumbria, on 29 May.
Learning that his work had won the award, Andrew said: “The project was a real challenge and I am very pleased that all the hard work of everyone involved has been recognised.”
The garden was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Scouting movement worldwide with a jamboree that was held there. The theme of the jamboree was “One World, One Promise”.
Chelmsford Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Parks & Heritage, Cllr Christopher Kingsley, was delighted at winning the award. He said: “The One World Garden is the result of the inspired vision, hard work and generosity of a very special group of people and organisations, who can all be very proud of the garden’s ever-expanding collection of accolades.”
Creating the garden involved moving 400m3 of soil and building the dry stone walls using 95tonnes of Welsh Pennant Blue for the walls and pools and 27tonnes of sandstone paving to link each of the garden areas.