A college has achieved a Gold award for its unique display at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Capel Manor College, near Waltham Cross, won gold for its 'Fifty Shades of Gold' exhibit and silver for the 'Wild Garden' floral arch display.

The ‘50 Shades of Gold’ garden was designed to celebrate Capel Manor College’s 50th Golden Anniversary, exploring the science behind the colour yellow, why it evolved in the plant world and what is means to gardeners and plant breeders.

The exhibit tells the story of the science and natural history though 50 different plants with gold leaves or gold flowers.

National Garden Centre and plant sales manager at Capel Manor College, Julie Dowbiggin, helped lead a team of apprentices and gardeners to Gold.

She said: “Winning gold on our 50th year is wonderful, we're thrilled! To showcase the College’s 50 year golden history, we decided to look at yellow plants and pigments in the plant kingdom. The exhibit has been well received by the show visitors as well as the judge and our garden is proving successful for the College with the potential recruitment of new students and new visitors to our lovely gardens in Enfield.”

In addition, Capel’s Level 4 Higher Diploma Floristry students received Silver in the RHS Chelsea Future Florist Competition, for their ‘Wild Garden’ floral arch display. It is the first ever time the students had competed and they were asked to submit design ideas for this year’s show as part of an internal college competition.

The arch was inspired by nature using a woodland theme with blue, lilac, purple and white flowers and foliage.

Principal at Capel Manor College, Malcolm Goodwin, added: “This success is a credit to the whole College. The students and staff have put in an incredible amount of time, effort, passion and skill into their winning entries and richly deserve this recognition. It goes to show that embarking on a new career in floristry, horticulture or any of the subjects we teach can not only be rewarding but bring success at the highest levels.”

The college in Bullsmoor Lane intends to create a permanent display based on the winning design for all to see as part of its 50th Golden Anniversary celebrations planned for later in the year.