Veitch Memorial Medal awarded

One of the most prestigious awards in the gardening world has been bestowed on the creator of a Cornish garden.

St Ewe resident John Nelson received the Veitch Memorial Medal for his work in creating the Lost Gardens of Heligan, reports Cornwall Today.

The award is one of the highest honours available to gardeners and one that Mr Nelson will be very proud of.

He was given the medal by the Royal Horticultural Society and told local newspaper Cornwall Today that he was pleased to be recognised for his work.

"Id been interested in gardening all my life, but thank goodness I didnt know enough to spoil anything. Dont cut back too much was always my motto," he added.

Mr Nelson restored The Gardens of Heligan to their former glory, almost two decades after they were destroyed by a hurricane in 1990.

Although receiving such a prestigious honour may seem unrealistic to most gardeners, everyone must start somewhere and adding a greenhouse to the garden can open up a whole new world of growing.