Greenmount Florists’ Chelsea success

Greenmount students Natalie Straney, Killyleagh, and Shannon Ormandy, Ballymena, have each won a Bronze Medal for their stunning design work at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. They were competing in the Final of the RHS Young Chelsea Florist of the Year Competition and had been asked to create a carnival headdress for a male participant.

CAFRE Greenmount student Natalie Straney, Killyleagh with her Chelsea design.

For Shannon, who graduated from Greenmount with her Level 3 Diploma in Floristry last year, this was her third appearance in a Chelsea Final; an amazing track record of success for the twenty-year-old florist. She said: “I had to create a floral dress for the 2014 final and a fantasy tree last year, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I reached the final again this year. I’ve loved competing at Chelsea and winning a medal has been the icing on the cake for me. The teaching team at Greenmount have been inspirational and I’ve had great support from Vintage Rose Florists, Randalstown, where I work.”

CAFRE Greenmount student Shannon Ormandy, Ballymena with her carnival headdress design at Chelsea.

Natalie, who is nineteen years old, is a current student on the Level 2 Diploma in Floristry course at Greenmount. She first became interested in floristry during a short work placement from school while studying for A Levels. Natalie said: “It’s been a fantastic year for me. I’ve loved the course and working on placement with Petals and Pots florists in Downpatrick. I was surprised and delighted to score such high marks in the Ireland heat held at Greenmount in February. Then to reach the final and have my design showcased at Chelsea was a dream come true, but I still can’t believe I’m home with a Chelsea medal.”

Notes to editors: 

1. All media enquiries to DAERA Press Office, pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or tel: 028 9052 4619.

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