RHS Malvern Spring Festival Gold Medal Winner 2019
“The Orange Express” by Jason Hales of Villaggio Verde Proud winners of one of the 6 highly-coveted Gold Medals of this year’s RHS Malvern Spring Festival show garden. Villaggio Verde olive tree growers, took GOLD MEDAL at the RHS show in Malvern this year! Our beautiful award-winning garden was entitled “THE ORANGE EXPRESS”, evoking memories of rural Spain in spring, as visitors are transported to an old industrial working train station. The garden featured orange, lemon, pomegranate and olive trees sit alongside grape vines. The Award Winning garden included a train station house, a goods store and a railroad track, which gave the visitors the feeling of being part of the atmosphere as they viewed the scene from the platform. This year’s Golden Medal was one of the many we have received in the past. We are already looking forward to next year’s competition! Malvern Spring Festival – Gold Winner Show Garden – 2019 Malvern Spring Festival – Gold Winner Show Garden – 2019 Malvern Spring Festival – Gold Winner Show Garden – 2019 malvern-spring-festival-gold-medal-winner (2) (1) Previous Next 2019 – RHS Gold – The Orange Express 2018 – RHS Gold – Billy’s Cave 2017 – RHS Silver- Gilt – The Retreat 2016 – RHS Gold – The Garden of Romance 2015 – RHS Gold & Best in Show – Andalucia 2014 – RHS Gold – Balearic Islands 2013 – RHS Gold – Provence 2012 – RHS Silver- Gilt – Spain 2011 – RHS Silver – Spain
VILLAGGIO VERDE LAUNCHES PIONEERING BIOSECURITY TO TACKLE XYLELLA THREAT
Multi award-winning specialist growers and supplier of olive trees, Villaggio Verde, has today unveiled pioneering testing procedures to help halt the spread of the potentially devastating bacterial disease, Xylella into the UK. Xylella has now been added as a threat to UK horticulture as it is already present in mainland Europe, and fears have risen of it being accidentally introduced to the shores of the British Isles. After recognising the threat, Villaggio Verde started discussions with specialist horticultural scientists more than a year ago to explore innovative methods that they could adopt to assure their customers and the industry in general. Its new, onsite testing zone, located at its nursery in Worcestershire, is run by a fully-trained technician who takes samples from every single Villaggio Verde olive tree. Using the advanced DNA based tests, similar to the well-known pregnancy kit, results are generated in just under an hour. Testing has just started and is now in full operation. Leaf samples are taken from the tree canopy and analysed, providing rigour and reliability. Once tested, the tree is issued with a unique certificate, relating to a security tag, showing the olive tree ‘Tested Negative’. Villaggio Verde has been working closely with Professor of Plant and Microbial Science, Roy Kennedy, from Pershore College (Warwickshire College Group). He has helped train all members of Villaggio Verde staff, showing them exactly how to carry out controlled tests and providing an understanding to the whole team. Professor Kennedy said: “The threat of Xylella is becoming increasingly significant so it was incredibly encouraging to see such forward-thinking in biosecurity from a grower and supplier. By taking the pioneering step of commissioning us to train a technician on how to use the DNA kit, Villaggio Verde is providing certainty in uncertain times and ensuring that all of their trees have a completely clean bill of health.” Villaggio Verde owner Jason Hales is passionate about implementing methods to future-proof our environment against external threats. He said: “We feel education is key in biosecurity. We hope that by implementing this testing protocol we will inspire others to adopt the same process, therefore significantly reducing the threat to our shores and our native flora. “Villaggio Verde has always been the leader in the growing and supply of olive trees and we believe this important initiative will prove to all how serious we are. “We are totally committed to ensuring that anyone purchasing a Villaggio Verde olive tree can be assured of its health and provenance. “For us, it’s about getting ahead of the curve in biosecurity to help gardeners, landscapers, the environment and our industry. With more than 350 known plant species susceptible to Xylella, including basics like lavender and rosemary, it is important that we all source and buy our plants and trees through trusted reputable suppliers. Xylella was first identified more than 100 years ago on grape vines in California and the threat still remains.” The specialist firm, which has more than 20 years’ experience, already has strict methods in place to help ensure it never brings an infected plant into the country. Villaggio Verde only recovers olive trees from commercial olive groves in Southern regions of Spain and Portugal where there is no cover crop or vegetation for the spittle bug, the main vector, to live. Olive trees are tested in various parts of the grove before the trees are removed, before being containerised and taken to the nursery, where they stand on gravel with no habitat for the vector. Each tree is pollarded and all vegetation is removed. Over three growing seasons, the trees are batch tested regularly by the Spanish Authority before being moved to the UK for further regular inspections and annual testing by DEFRA. For more information about Villaggio Verde please visit www.villaggioverde.co.uk or call 01886 887822. ABOUT VILLAGGIO VERDE Established more than 20 years ago, Villaggio Verde is the largest grower and supplier of olive trees in the UK. Villaggio Verde offers a comprehensive range of olive trees from young through to ancient specimens, in all forms including wild and natural to more formal and clipped. It also sells gifts made from olive wood, a by-product. The firm has a haul of five RHS gold medals, two Silver-Gilt and one Silver. For more information visit villaggioverde.co.uk or call 01886 887882.
Olive Trees on TV with Alan Titchmarsh
One of our latest adventures on TV was with the well-loved Alan Titchmarsh show – the aptly named “Love your Garden”.
Olive Trees in the sky
They say a picture is worth a thousand words – so rather than try to describe the amazing art installation, where Olive Tree “Bombs” hung up in the air, at the Whitecross Street Party, let’s show you the pictorial record of the making, installing and finished product.
Villaggio OliveTrees in a Wonderful Wedding Venue
Villaggio Verde were delighted to be involved in providing the 5 ancient Olive trees transforming the magical courtyard and barn venue.
Villaggio Verde Support Children in Need with DIY SOS ‘The Big Build’
Villaggio Verde were delighted to support the DIY SOS team during project ‘Little Miracles’ at the Spinney in Peterborough.
Olive Trees in Art Installations
Olive trees looking resplendent in this inspiring art installation by Siobhan Hapaskas called “The sky has to turn black before you can see the stars” (presented by Index Gallery). There were 5 cubes each one 3m x 3m , each tree trunk had a small vibrating motor attached to it, which made the tree shake. The installation was staged at the Brunel Goods Shed, Stroud. Your might like to know the fate of the trees after a week of shaking… Siobhan has repotted the trees and is coaxing them back to health!
Villaggio Verde awarded RHS award for their show garden, ‘Time for Olive Trees’
Villaggio Verde olive tree growers, took GOLD at the RHS show in Malvern this year! Their beautiful award-winning garden was entitled “Reposer Vos Roues (Rest Your Wheels)”, and recreates an exquisite refreshment stop, historically used in the Tour de France, and much-loved the rest of the year. The garden features Olive trees, of course, as shaded areas to rest a while, with bright splashes of colours provided by both flowers and the rustic cafe accouterments. 2019 – RHS Gold – The Orange Express 2018 – RHS Gold – Billy’s Cave 2017 – RHS Silver- Gilt – The Retreat 2016 – RHS Gold – The Garden of Romance 2015 – RHS Gold & Best in Show – Andalucia 2014 – RHS Gold – Balearic Islands 2013 – RHS Gold – Provence 2012 – RHS Silver- Gilt – Spain 2011 – RHS Silver – Spain
