Chelsea's home grown winner

Never in the history of the Chelsea Flower Show have the Chelsea Pensioners had their own garden at the show.

This year was the first time - and today it won the ultimate accolade by being named best in show.

The garden was commissioned by the Royal Hospital, Chelsea - which lends its grounds to the show every year - to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

Featuring a thatched country pub and a village green to represent the soldier's dream of home, the Ecover Chelsea Pensioners' Garden was designed by Julian Dowle - a veteran of 25 shows - with input from the pensioners themselves.

Because of the cold weather, Mr Dowle had to train heat lamps on a bank of poppies, a central theme of the garden, to get them to flower in time for the show.

Former pop star gardener Kim Wilde marked her first Chelsea by winning the award for best courtyard garden with the Cumbrian Fellside Garden, designed with Richard Lucas.