How Did a Topiary F1 Car Win Gold at the Chelsea Flower Show? Here Paul King, owner of King and Co, has walked through the intricacies of our Gold Medal-winning topiary creation!
King and Co partnered with Williams F1 to create this ambitious installation celebrating the team’s 35-year history. The award-winning display turned heads with its life-size scale and precise detailing.
First unveiled in 2012, the project took three years to complete. The topiary car featured a fully formed pit-stop backdrop and included authentic parts from Williams Racing. The team sculpted the entire piece from Ligustrum delavayanum.
‘From a professional point of view it’s utopia. ‘We thought the judges may not feel it was a Chelsea-type thing but we’re so happy we’ve achieved a level of excellence that’s so hard to achieve.’
Designer and Owner of King and Co, Paul King
The display’s pit scene was shaped using Chinese privet, a fast-growing species ideal for detailed topiary work. Regular clipping of Ligustrum delavayanum encourages dense, compact foliage. This was perfect for sculpting complex shapes like the intricate curves of F1 tyre side pods. The plant’s versatility made it a natural choice for this unique challenge!
Sir Frank Williams, founder of Williams F1, visited the show on Monday, 21st May. Shortly after his team’s victory at the Spanish Grand Prix.
We were fortunate enough to get a gold medal for it, which Sir Frank was delighted about, because he likes winning things.”
Designer and Owner of King and Co, Paul King
Following the display’s success at Chelsea, several topiary pit scenes have since been installed at the Williams Racing factory in Oxfordshire!
Back at our nursery, we offer a wide selection of topiary plants for immediate collection or next-day delivery across the UK. Whether you’re after instant impact with ready-made hedging, cones, spirals, balls, pleached trees, or dramatic arches, we provide topiary options to suit every style. We also stock high-quality alternatives to traditional Box plants, as well as Yew hedging, long favoured in classic topiary design.
BBC – Williams F1 Car Topiary Exhibit Wins Chelsea gold
The Telegraph – Hedges Cut Like Williams Formula 1 Car
Top Gear – F1 Garden Wins Chelsea Flower Show
Daily Mail – British Racing Green: The Hedge Shaped Like a Formula 1 Car
Financial Times – Formula One: Racing Green
We are frequently asked if summer is a good time to plant trees, as many assume that planting is only possible during the dormancy period. We’re here to share that there are actually many benefits to planting in the summer!
Our deciduous trees are currently in full leaf, making summer an ideal time to visit the nursery. You can explore and see the trees in their full glory, allowing you to base selections on their size, form, and leaf colour. Whether you’re enhancing an established garden or starting fresh, seeing the trees at their most vibrant makes it easier to envision how they’ll look in your landscape.
When choosing a tree at this time of year, there are just a few important factors to consider to ensure you select the right tree for the right season…
The key to successful summer planting lies in choosing container-grown trees and ensuring they receive consistent aftercare. With proper watering and attention, these trees establish quickly and survive in the hot summer conditions.
At our nursery, we stock a wide selection of container-grown trees and shrubs that are ideal for planting during the warmer seasons. In fact, we’ve recently restocked a wide range of plants…
Longer days and warmer temperatures often mean more time outdoors. If you’re looking to increase privacy or soften harsh sunlight, planting trees for natural summer screening is a beautiful and functional solution.
Standard trees can help obscure overlooking windows, create shaded areas, and establish a more intimate garden space.
1/2 Standard trees can offer eye-level screening to create privacy around seating areas without blocking light!
Maintaining a regular watering schedule is particularly important, especially if you’re planting trees in summer! Regular watering helps to keep the soil moist which is essential for the tree to successfully establish itself in its new location. For more detailed guidance on the best watering practices, including information on volume, frequency, and helpful accessories, please take a look at our article on watering newly planted trees!
Is summer a good time to plant? Absolutely! Why wait to transform your garden? Whether you’re looking for privacy, shade, or seasonal interest, summer is a fantastic time to plant. Come visit us, explore our vibrant selection, and find the perfect trees to bring your landscape vision to life. 🌳
A Guide to Bare Root: When does the season start?
A Guide to Screening Trees: Is Photinia Good for Natural Privacy?
Bare Root Planting Tips: How to establish a native hedge on a tight budget
A Guide to Pleached Trees: How effective are Hornbeam at creating privacy?
A Guide to Leylandii: Is it good for screening?
Dutch Elm Disease is a destructive fungal infection that targets elm trees. The fungus is transmitted by Elm Bark beetles, which disrupt the tree’s water transport system. This fungus blocks the vascular system (xylem) of the tree, preventing water and nutrients from reaching the branches and leaves. This leads to gradual decline and eventual dieback.
In the 1970s and 1980s, this disease decimated more than 90% of the elm population. This loss was particularly heartbreaking because the majestic English elm was often seen as a cherished symbol of our green and pleasant land.
In the 1980s, while clearing out elm trees affected by the disease, Paul King discovered some smooth-leaved elms that appeared unaffected. Curious, he took cuttings from these healthy trees and placed them in a greenhouse. He then forgot about these cuttings for nearly a decade, only to find that both the cuttings and the original trees remained healthy. These cuttings became the foundation for propagating a new batch of disease-resistant English elms. Although these trees aren’t completely immune, they exhibit strong resistance to Dutch Elm Disease and the original trees remain vibrant today.
While King & Co does not currently sell any Elm trees, Paul King shared his discovery story during a 2011 conversation with Alan Titchmarsh at RHS Chelsea. Watch the interview to learn how King & Co has spent over 20 years working to revive the elm and help restore it to our countryside’s natural beauty!
Photinia ‘Red Robin’ Planting Guide Information
Essential support for your newly planted tree
Paul and Teresa King, directors of King and Co, were invited to the Suffolk Show as guests of the Suffolk Agricultural Society. They were invited to tour the horticultural section, before it opened on the second day of the show by chairman John Dyer. “I was really impressed by the quality of the exhibitors,” said Paul King. “Many of them were what I would describe as ‘Chelsea standard.”
The Society are keen to secure King and Co as one of the leading attractions at the 2015 show. Which was also visited on the day by Prince Harry. Discussions are ongoing between the Suffolk Agricultural Society and the tree nursery regarding King and Co’s potential participation in the 2015 show! Though we are not yet confirmed exhibitors, this invitation highlights our standing within the horticultural community. It also reflects our commitment to providing the best plants and expert advice!
At King & Co, we offer a wide selection of plants to meet every need. This includes a variety of evergreen screening trees, hedging plants, shrubs, topiary, and bare root. We are also proud to provide expert guidance to our customers!
We were honoured to be invited to the Suffolk Show and we’re excited about the potential to participate in the future. In the meantime, we invite you to explore our nursery’s exceptional range and see why we’re a trusted choice for trees and shrubs in the local community. We look forward to sharing updates soon, stay tuned for news about our involvement in this event!
You can buy trees, hedging, shrubs and topiary online by browsing our website.
If you do not see a plant or size that is suitable for you then please call as we stock a wide variety of plants in our tree nursery. It’s worth noting that many other websites sell other people’s stock (i.e. they act as an agent) so you cannot view the products at their own site. At King & Co, all of our advertised plants are available for viewing at our tree nursery in Rayne, near Braintree, situated just over an hours drive out of London.
Our knowledgeable and experienced tree nursery staff are always contactable via phone on 01376 340469 or if you have any questions regarding any of our trees or accessories.
If you cannot see what you require on our website, please complete the enquiry form. We will give it our urgent attention and will get back to you shortly with a solution that meets your needs.
If you are looking for specific evergreen trees, Photinia, Leylandii hedging, Leylandii trees, instant hedging or shrubs, use the search bar at the top of the page
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