Floral tributes to celebrate the Open at Royal Birkdale

Jun 21 2008 by Ben Schofield, Liverpool Daily Post

Royal Birkdale

TWO floral mosaics celebrating the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale were unveiled in Southport yesterday.

More than 22,500 plants have been used to depict the Royal Birkdale crest on Southport Promenade.

The 24-metre square display includes Sempervivum, Pyrethrum Golden Moss, Helichrysum Korma and Senecio Serpens.

A second four metre square display highlighting England’s Golf Capital has also been planted by Sefton Council’s leisure services department

Both displays were bought from Kernocks Instaplant which specialises in high quality ornamental bedding displays.

The plants are carefully grown and then delivered for installation by Sefton’s gardeners.

Graham Bayliss, Sefton’s leisure services director, said: “Both displays look absolutely fantastic and are in prime locations for residents and visitors to Southport to see.

“The plants should quickly establish themselves and provide a beautiful display during and after the Open Golf Championship.

“The beds are part of a number of displays aimed at enhancing the town for the Open Golf which should be a spectacular and colourful event.”

Royal Birkdale’s Mike Gilyeat added: “Having seen the two floral mosaics I am very impressed with them.”