Flower arrangers strike gold at Chelsea thanks to scientists’ help
A C O L L A B O R AT I O N between Scottish marine c h e mi s t s and f l o we r arrangers has struck gold at the Chelsea Flower Show.
The Scottish branch of the National Association of F l o we r Ar r a n g e ment Societies (NAFAS) enlisted the help of the academics from Aberdeen University to assist with their Jacques Cousteau-inspired display.
Entitled Far Below the Sea Blooms, the arrangement attempted to depict coral reefs and other underwater landscapes, meticulously recreated with the help of the university’s Biodiscovery Centre.
Professor Marcel Jaspars, whose research focuses on exploring the deepest parts of the ocean in search of new drugs, took time out to meet the Scottish team to explain the make-up of coral reefs so that the display was an accurate l i keness representation.
He said: “I’d like to offer mywarmest congratulations to the SAFAS team.
“They have done an amazing amount of work to complete this beautiful display and the fact that it is based on a subject that is so close to my heart is an added bonus.
“Sustainability was a key message that both SAFAS and t he University of Aberdeen wanted to convey and I think this display has done that fantastically.
“It al s o conveys the message that underpins the work we do at the University, which is that reefs are an excellent source of new
and drugs that can have huge health benefits for the human race.”
The display was the first time in 23 years the Scottish arm of the NAFAS has produced the body’s Chelsea Flower Show stand.
NAFAS Chelsea 2013 Flower Show leader Valerie Davidson said: “The gold medal is testament to the hours and hours of hard work that have been put in to make this display so special.
“I’d like to thank every single person who has been involved – all our partners and contributors and of course the University of Aberdeen’s Biodiscovery Centre for all their expertise and guidance.”