Chelsea gold to an unlikely community garden from Sheffield

The garden was not supposed to win. Its designers — two teachers and a retired signalman — had entered the community category expecting, they said, “a polite pat on the head”.

Instead, The Waverley Sidings, built from recycled tools, salvaged railway sleepers and something in the region of four hundred volunteer hours, took gold at this year's Chelsea Flower Show.

“We didn't think a garden with old spanners in it was going to end up here,” said co-designer Ruth Amory. “We built it for the neighbours. It turns out the neighbours have very good taste.”