Couple honoured for garden work (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Couple honoured for garden work

CHIPPING Campden couple are due to collect a special award on behalf of the staff and volunteers at Hidcote Manor Gardens today.

Graham and Susan Pearson, who are volunteer garden stewards at the National Trust property near Mickleton, were due to pick up the Trust's community, learning and volunteering programme of the year award at a ceremony in Bristol.

Graham and Susan were chosen to collect the award on behalf of their colleagues in recognition of the four months' work they have done in transcribing and analysing the diaries of Major Lawrence Johnston, who designed the world-famous garden.

The diaries, which were given to the Trust two years ago, offer the only first-hand evidence to date of the origin and stories behind some of Johnston's plant collection.

Graham said: "It has been a tremendously exciting time. Having volunteered as garden stewards for the last two years, we are thrilled to have had the opportunity to gain a direct appreciation of Lawrence Johnston and by transcribing the diaries to have contributed to the future of Hidcote."

The Pearsons' research into the diaries is published in the latest issue of Country Life magazine.