A HAMPSHIRE garden designer has seen her work recognised at the world's largest flower show.

Anita Foy's edible garden was the centrepiece of the week-long Royal Horticultural Society's Hampton Court Flower Show earlier this month.

Although as it was specially commissioned by the RHS so could not be formally awarded, RHS judges told Mrs Foy it was of gold standard.

Mrs Foy, of New Road, Meonstoke, who studied horticulture at Sparsholt College, co-designed the piece with Jon Wheatley, which featured a range of edible exhibits, with a foraging area, an area to pick food from the hedgerows, edible flowers, fruit and nut trees, a small vineyard and a lavender and olive grove, alongside other natural producers like bee hives.

β€œIt was to widen people's horizons to maybe go beyond just vegetables and make them aware of just how many plants there are that you can eat,” said Mrs Foy.

Unlike exhibits, which must be kept to 200 square metres, the piece was 1,900 square metres and had to all be brought in and grown over a three week period before the show.

The 48-year-old was show manager for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show between 2003 and 2007 after switching careers from an events organiser.