The wet weather didn't dampen the spirits of leading names in the DIY and garden industry at Chelsea this week, as the likes of Homebase, Bord na Mona and Hillier took home Gold for their show gardens and exhibits at the famous flower show.
Long-established garden centre business and Chelsea veteran, Hillier secured its 70th consecutive Gold medal at this year's Chelsea Flower Show for its Crossing Continents exhibit in the Great Pavilion.

The garden, which celebrated plants from across the world and how they have become classics in British gardens, took pride of place at the heart of the pavilion. It was also a landmark win for Hillier managing director Andy McIndoe, who celebrated his 25th consecutive Gold medal and Ricky Dorlay, who has been growing plants and trees for Hillier's Gold medal-winning gardens for 50 years. Mr Dorlay, who has been with Hillier since 1964, said of the record win: "I am absolutely thrilled - and a bit emotional! You never take anything for granted, so it is absolutely wonderful news."

Bord na Mona bagged two Gold medals at Chelsea this year, with the Rich brothers' show garden, which was jointly sponsored with Cloudy Bay, and Pennard Plants' Roots and Shoots garden in the Great Pavilion. Both exhibits planted using Bord na Mona's peat-free growing media.

Meanwhile, Homebase notched up another Gold medal with its Urban Retreat Garden show garden designed by Adam Frost. It is Mr Frost's seventh Gold medal at Chelsea and his third designing for Homebase, which also won Gold for its Teenage Cancer Trust garden designed by Joe Swift in 2012, and a Silver-Gilt for Cornish Memories Garden in 2011.

Read DIY Week's full report on the Chelsea Flower Show in the June 12 issue.