AN award-winning nursery in Sticklepath is teaming up with the former head gardener to the Prince of Wales for its next trip to the Hampton Court Palace.

Bowden Nurseries specialises in mail order hostas, ferns and grasses, and has been on a roll, having struck gold at three recent flower shows, including two golds at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Alongside success at Chelsea, the nursery also recently clinched two gold medals at Gardening Scotland, and a further gold medal at BBC Gardener's World Live.

The nursery will have a display at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show from July 3 to July 8.

Owner Tim Penrose has called in David Howard to help create what he hopes will be yet another eye-catching and gold-medal winning display for the nursery.

David is the former head gardener for the Prince of Wales at Highgrove House, and more recently has been involved in the BBC programme The Manor Reborn.

Tim Penrose, who owns the business with his wife, Ruth, said: 'We're starting to work with some of the very best people in the business.

'We recently acquired the renowned fern nursery Rickards Hardy Ferns — a name which anyone involved in gardening or horticulture will instantly recognise.

'And we've also been able to tempt Martin Rickard himself back into the driver's seat. We're absolutely delighted to be associated with him, just as, in the same way, we are thrilled to be working alongside someone of the calibre of David Howard.

'We'd love everyone at Hampton Court Palace to feel like they can come along, say hello, and get their questions answered by such a renowned gardening expert.'

Tim and Ruth Penrose purchased the hosta nursery from Ann and Roger Bowden in 2004. Since then, in addition to winning eight Chelsea gold medals and more than 20 RHS gold medals, they have been awarded a Royal Warrant to the Prince of Wales.

The nursery used Chelsea as the UK launch-pad for a new hosta, the Fragrant Queen.

Tim said: 'The more often you exhibit at Chelsea, the more nervous you become. It was a pretty restless night, and I was up ridiculously early. But this is it, we've done it.

'We said we wanted two golds this year, but saying something like that is one thing, being able to deliver is quite another. You have to have every plant at its absolute best, and the exhibition needs to be faultless.'

For further details on the nursery, visit http://www.bowdenhostas.com">www.bowdenhostas.com