Barbados wins gold at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024

The Barbados Horticultural Society’s display immersed visitors in the vibrant rhythms and colours of Barbadian culture.

Established in 1864 by emancipated Africans living on Barbadian plantations, the Barbados Landship provided a haven for them to escape poverty. Facing a lack of benefits such as pensions or welfare services, they formed the Barbados Landship as a cooperative system of benevolence, relying on small contributions from each member to support one another in times of need.

The BHS collaborated with the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) for this year’s show, while partnering with Lord Simon Woolley of Woodford, whose mother is Barbadian. Lord Woolley is the only Lord with Barbadian heritage and the first person of Afro-Caribbean descent to head an Oxbridge college. The BHS was honoured to have him present at the stand to greet press and attendees.

The “Ahoy! Barbados Landship 1864” exhibition showcased a replica of a boat with indigenous flowers meticulously cultivated on the island of Barbados, displaying magnificent blooms while teasing exhibitors with inspiring ideas to take home.

For years, the BHS has been a beacon of excellence at the renowned Chelsea Flower Show, consistently capturing the prestigious Gold Award. This remarkable achievement stands as a testament to the dedication and passion of the BHS members, who tirelessly work to showcase the beauty and diversity of Barbadian flora and fauna on an international stage.

Jennifer Weetch, President of BHS, emphasised the importance of commemorating the legacy of the Barbados Landship Association, stating, “It’s a tribute to our history and traditions, which continue to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide. We started planning for the show back in October 2023, meticulously selecting and nurturing the flowers that will grace our stand. Blooms ranged from anthuriums to heliconias, varieties of ginger lilies including torch and strelitzia, along with the lush foliage of ferns and orchids, where each bloom carries a piece of our heritage.”

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For more information on Barbados, please contact Colm McDonnell colm@travelmedia.ie

About Barbados

The island of Barbados offers a unique Caribbean experience steeped in rich history and colourful culture, and rooted in remarkable landscapes. Barbados is the home of two of the three remaining Jacobean Mansions left in the Western hemisphere, as well as fully functional rum distilleries. In fact, this island is known as the birthplace of rum, commercially producing and bottling the spirit since the 1700s. Each year, Barbados hosts several world-class events including the annual Barbados Food and Rum Festival; the annual Barbados Reggae Festival; and the annual Crop Over Festival, where celebrities such as Lewis Hamilton and its very own Rihanna are often spotted. Accommodations are wide and varied, ranging from picturesque plantation houses and villas to quaint bed and breakfast gems; prestigious international chains; and award-winning five-diamond resorts. In 2018, Barbados’ accommodation sector captured 13 awards in the Top Hotels Overall, Luxury, All-Inclusive, Small, Best Service, Bargain, and Romance categories of the ‘Traveler’s Choice Awards’. And getting to paradise is a breeze: the Grantley Adams International Airport offers plenty non-stop and direct services from a growing number of U.S., U.K., Canadian, Caribbean, European, and Latin American gateways, making Barbados the true gateway to the Eastern Caribbean. Visit Barbados and experience why for two years in a row it won the prestigious Star Winter Sun Destination Award at the ‘Travel Bulletin Star Awards’ in 2017 and 2018. For more information on travel to Barbados, visit www.visitbarbados.org, follow on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VisitBarbados, and via Twitter @Barbados.

About Barbados Horticultural Society

The Barbados Horticultural Society located in Christ Church, Barbados, is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting gardening and horticulture in Barbados. Details are available from the BHS website www.horticulturebarbados.com