Campaigning Mermaids at Chelsea show

THREE of the Henley Mermaids wore their swimsuits at Chelsea Flower Show on Monday to promote the need for cleaner rivers.

Laura Reineke, Joan Fennelly and Jo Robb posed in an award-winning trade garden designed by Emma O’Connell.

The garden featured a lock gate sourced from the Grand Union Canal, a water feature and naturalistic planting.

There were also sculptures made by Bix artist Dawn Conn, including one of a swimmer about to dive into the water.

She said: “I had a vision of a lock gate, some running water and wildflowers. I am so lucky that this vision has come together and to have the Mermaids there as campaigners for clean water and emblems of joy in middle age was just wonderful.”

Mrs Fennelly said: “Swimming and campaigning for our river has led us on so many adventures.

“As soon as Dawn got in touch we knew this was something we wanted to do, although we were not sure if anyone had stripped down to their swimming costumes at Chelsea before. It was bizarre, joyful and so much fun. All in all, it was a wonderful day out. We can’t wait for our next adventure.”

Ms Robb, who is a Green member of South Oxfordshire District Council, said they had also met Linford Christie, who had promised to come swimming with them, and TV “Dragon” Deborah Meaden, who also campaigns for cleaner rivers.

“We’re looking forward to working with Deborah for an end to sewage pollution and the restoration of our rivers,” she said.

Ms Reineke said: “There is so much community spirit in Henley and it was great to see it in action at Chelsea. We met so many wonderful people and had a great time reconnecting with our dear friend Lynne Lambourne at her amazing Gardena stand.

“Lynne’s designs are trailblazing and just show what can be done with recycled materials and some imagination.”

Fellow Mermaid Susan Barry, an aspiring garden designer, said: “It was so special to be at Chelsea on press day, to be able to see the show gardens without the crowds and to get up close to the beautiful plants and flowers.”

Meanwhile Ms Lambourne, an environmental campaigner from Peppard, has created a show garden promoting sustainability in conjunction with gardening tools supplier Gardena.

She said: “I’m having the most amazing time. It has been really nice having the ‘Henley Massive’ and it was great seeing Steve Redgrave with whom I do the paddleboard river clean-up.

“It was great seeing the Henley Mermaids — they are such a great bunch it really brightened my day. They do such great things regarding our rivers and it was lovely to talk through what I had been doing with my ocean clean-up. It was great to begin plotting and planning new local projects.

“It gave me such a strong feeling of community with so many friendly faces.” Ms Lambourne said she had also seen many famous faces.

“I saw Judi Dench and Dominic West and even Piers Morgan came over to our garden to say hello. He was very charming. It felt much more special meeting my garden heroes like Monty Don.”

She also saw the King and Queen during their visit. Ms Lambourne, an interior designer, has used decking made from recycled plastics and chairs made out of recycled milk cartons in her garden.

There is also a cabinet made from recycled white goods such as fridges and washing machines with a recycled yogurt pot worktop.

She said she was thrilled at the reception her garden had received. “It has been great to show everyone really what I stand for,” said Ms Lambourne.

“Gardena have created the first recyclable hose as 1.8 million hoses are purchased every year and they all ultimately end up in landfill.

“Our micro-drip watering system is selling like hotcakes, particularly with the recent hot summers it’s something people are really interested in.

“The hoses are 45 per cent post-consumer waste and 15 per cent Gardena’s post-manufacturing waste and the rest is a small amount of sustainably sourced rubber.”

Emma O’Connell’s garden, Essence of Life, was awarded five stars by the show judges.