MERSEYSIDE gardeners showed off their green fingers at the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park – and were awarded top medals for their efforts.

Tony Heywood, from Formby, was awarded the gold medal for Space Ritual, his ground-breaking conceptual artwork in a horticultural installation based on Formby beach.

Last night, he said: “I am thrilled about the RHS gold medal.

“I opened up the chambers in my gardens to create more of a landscape and I am pleased that people really enjoyed it.

“The Flower Show at Tatton Park is really strong in terms of creativity and it is wonderful to see the RHS really supporting fresh ideas and cutting-edge design.

“There are some really interesting ideas this year, and I am glad to see what was put on at the Visionary Gardens and all the other exhibits.”

Bromborough designer Pip Probert won silver gilt for her Envirolink Garden.

Pip cut her teeth at the Knutsford event, achieving great success in her early days when she scooped an RHS Gold Medal, aged 24.

For the first time this year, she created an environmentally-focused design, which showcases how to incorporate recycled products and renewable energy into a garden without compromising on design.

Claire Skidmore and Clare Edwards, from Southport, were awarded silver medals for their garden, Muddy Boots.

Taking the theme of dreams as their main focus, their plants were selected for their calming qualities, with grasses such as Miscanthus Sinesis – Morning Light – producing movement, as well as silver foliage and jewel colours.