Agriculture students branch out to Chelsea with Highland croft garden

A HIGHLAND croft garden designed for the 21st century to promote biodiversity and renewable energy is in the running to win a gold medal tomorrow at one of the most famous horticultural shows in the world.

The Sustainable Highland Garden created by students at the Scottish Agricultural College in Edinburgh has been chosen as one of the show gardens at this year's prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The garden is a contemporary adaptation of an ancient Scottish way of life and includes revolving mechanised panels to attract sunshine and deflect wind, an organic vegetable and herb garden with a water rill running through it and a beehive. The croft, which is made of straw bales, has a wildflower roof, solar panels and a wind turbine.