TWO people from Dartmoor Prison's Resettlement Unit helped construct this year's garden for the Eden Project at the Chelsea Flower Show — helping to win the sought-after silver medal.

Prison officer Ivan Judd and Ashley, a prisoner from the unit, were invited to Chelsea to be part of a large group of people who would create the project's 'Key' garden at the show.

The Eden Project garden, this year staged on Chelsea's biggest plot, came about as a result of the 'Growing for Life' project started at the Resettlement Unit in Princetown.

A small number of prisons were also involved via the prison service and with the help from Homeless Link, many people using the services were involved in growing and caring for the huge quantity of plants.

The 'Key' echoed the life journeys that many of the people who grew and planted it were making — revealing exclusion, choices, fortune, despair, hope, humanity and achievement.

Officer Judd said that everyone involved in the Key garden were 'highly delighted' with winning a silver medal at the show.

He said: 'Myself and Ashley were invited to Chelsea to help with the construction of the key.

'This involved the ground works, building and planting of the thousands of plants and flowers used in the garden, under the direction of designer Paul Stone and landscape designer Kevin Austen, both from the Eden Project.

'There were prisoners from other jails such as Latchmere House and Wandsworth, along with some volunteers from some of the other agencies.'

The 'wow' factor of the garden was its vertical green wall, comprising of a matrix measuring 65ft by 7ft and installed with more than 4,000 young and tender plants.

The garden was an innovative combination of both decorative ornamental and productive plants which not only look good but also provide food.

Designer of the garden Paul Stone, who worked on the design with the charity Architecture sans Frontiéres-UK, said: 'The idea behind the garden was that it echoes the life journeys that people are making.

'It is a symbol of being locked up — whether in prison or just by a lack of opportunity — but also a means of opening doors and being released.

'The Key is a catalyst for long-term change and ongoing work, by increasing employment prospects for the participants who have gained new life skills and training through their involvement in the project.'