Car star's plasticine garden has reverse at Chelsea show

Published on Friday 15 May 2009 21:36

TOP Gear star James May has come under fire from Chelsea Flower Show traditionalists for creating a garden made entirely out of Plasticine.

The gardening gurus are outraged that as one of just 13 prestigious show gardens at this year's pruned-back event, May's "artwork" does not have real plants.

From its flowerbeds to the paths and plants, the TV presenter's show garden features two and a half tonnes of Plasticine in 24 colours.

May claims his effort is the biggest and most complex Plasticine model ever made and says he is showcasing it at Chelsea to "rekindle a sense of true magic".

"It's high time the full expressive breadth of this modelling medium was revealed," May said.

More than 1,000 people, including children and Chelsea pensioners, contributed to the design and Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins was May's right-hand man. But gardening writer and broadcaster Peter Seabrook said: "Can you think of a better way to dumb down what was the world's finest showcase for UK horticultural skills than by introducing Plasticine plants? "