FIRST-time competitor Faith Douglas has scooped a top award at one of the country’s leading flower shows with her design Healthy Roots: A garden to support.

The garden aims to show the relationship between nature, health and the well-being of people.

It was constructed by Morton Interiors and Landscapes and presented with the Silver Gilt award at the Harrogate Flower Show.

In the centre a red brick path depicts the red cross, the internationally recognisable symbol for first aid and a cobble heart symbolises the love shared with nature.

The planting surrounding the cross is entirely medicinal and includes a Chamomile doorstep. A bee hive also demonstrates the link between plants, insects and people.

Ms Douglas, the curator at Thorp Perrow Arboretum, near Bedale, said: “I feel that as human beings we have forgotten that the roots of our health and wellbeing come from nature.

“Most of our medicine can be traced back to the natural world and is readily available in the form of plants that we see every day. I wanted to remind people of this.”

The designer who also works with Help for Heroes at the Phoenix House Recovery centre in Catterick said she sees there first-hand the benefits of being in a natural environment.

The garden was sponsored by Braithwaite’s Garden Centre, of Leeming Bar, and MKM building supplies, of Ripon.