A CHARITY based in Leatherhead has won a prize for its innovative garden idea at this year's Chelsea Flower Show.
SeeAbility, which has five support centres around the town, was awarded a Silver-Gilt medal at the Royal Horticultural Society's world renowned show, which took part this week.
The garden was themed sight loss and aims to inspire people to think about the impact of visual impairment, a disability that the charity supports nationwide.
SeeAbility's CEO, David Scott-Ralphs, said: "It's an honour to have been awarded a Silver-Gilt medal at our first ever Chelsea Flower Show.
"This fabulous award is a reflection of the creative interpretation the garden has achieved in conceptually showing various sight conditions to make us all think about sight loss."
SeeAbility, formerly The Royal School for the Blind founded in 1799, offers a wide range of personalised services which enable people with a sight loss and additional disabilities to develop essential life skills for greater independence and an enriched quality of life.
The Chelsea Flower Show is an annual event held over five days every May in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, and attracts visitors from around the world.
The charity's bid to have their garden included in the show was supported by private bank and wealth managers Coutts and Co, while the display was designed by gardener Darren Hawkes.
SeeAbility patron the Duchess of Gloucester visited the garden on Monday with the Royal party which included the Queen and Prince Philip.
Michael Morley, chief executive of Coutts & Co, said: "We are absolutely delighted that our first ever garden has won a Silver-Gilt medal.
"This is down to the exceptional creativity and execution displayed by Darren and the team in ensuring the original concepts were bought to life so brilliantly.
"The garden has far exceeded all of our objectives of raising awareness of eye conditions and their early warning signs. This prestigious accolade is the icing on the cake."
