JAMAICA won a Silver Gild Medal for its “Flower Market Display” at the recent Chelsea Flower Show in London.

The display featured three market women bearing baskets with an array of Jamaican flowers, plants and fruits. One of the most popular exhibits at the show, the display was designed by Patrick Waldermar, a Jamaican artist and advertising executive.

Among the visitors to the Jamaican booth were Queen Elizabeth ll and Prince Andrew.

An annual event, the Chelsea show is organised by the Royal Horticultural Society, which has more than 300,000 members. It attracts more than 170,000 gardening enthusiasts from around the world and receives prime time television, radio and newspaper coverage across the United Kingdom.

Co-ordinator of the Jamaican display, Pearl Wright, told JIS News that while the delegation was a “little disappointed” that the country had not won a Gold award, just getting a medal at Chelsea was an achievement. The Silver Gild is the second highest award at the show.

Wright noted that the Jamaican organisers were also glad for the opportunity to expose the country’s flora to the rest of the world.

She added that the organisers would be looking at the possibility of getting funding from the United Kingdom to participate in future shows on the suggestion of supporting sponsors from London. The Jamaica Tourist Board, Air Jamaica and Jamaica Producers have supported Jamaica’s participation in the show over the years.

She said Chelsea provided the island with a good promotions vehicle and more funding should be allocated to the show. “I think Jamaica will have to change its outlook and perspective on entering Chelsea. It is a good vehicle for advertisement, it’s a good vehicle for promotion,” she said.

Wright added that Jamaica has always been trendsetting at Chelsea over the six years that the island has participated.

“It’s very strange but when Jamaica came to Chelsea six years ago, from the word go we seemed to have triggered something in the other islands. We have always projected something very culturally Jamaican. Last year it was the Herbal Garden, we have done the Jonkonnu, we have done our heritage. Every year we have done something that depicts the beauty of Jamaica. The first year we brought the Tryall Water Wheel,” she said.