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It hasn't been entirely plain sailing for the Writtle College team as they prepare for the 2009 Chelsea Flower Show.

As with most things, money has been at the top of the agenda.听 It's meant that they have had to be quite creative with things.

Calm before the storm

"A lot of stuff has been lent to us.听 We've had plants lent to us.听 We've had suppliers that we have at the college like our printers who are going to print all our magazines for us for free," explains college lecturer Ben Wincott.听

Nearly all the plants have been acquired, with the National Botanical Gardens of Wales听 supplying many of them.听 However, that's not been without problem.

"Some of them are bolting which is driving me crazy trying to control them," says Ben. "It's a new world for me to learn about how to control plants and get them to deliver on the day."

Ben is also trying to balance doing his 'normal' job as a lecturer with family life and getting the garden ready for Chelsea.

"It's going to get there, but its just going to be in time management," says Ben.听 "At the last second I'm going to pull it all together, I hope."

Many of the plants have come from Wales

The student are now starting to get involved with the project.听 One of the first year horticultural students is looking after all the plants.听 Another student is looking after the website development, whilst another is producing information for a brochure.

As Ben explains, he's having to hand-pick the students involved:听 "I'm putting in some specialist students that I know are good at certain things.听 It's a hand selection, but it's going to have to be because of the way it's coming in quite late."

Building of the structure begins later this week.听 If all goes to plan it should take two or three days to erect in situ - and several hours to dismantle.听

However, all the plants need to be cared for - the plants on-loan from the National Botanical Garden of Wales have to be returned.听 The rest will continue to be used at the college.

Ginger is a low-growing tropical plant

With less than a month to go, is the stress starting to get to Ben?

"I certainly seem to pull the rabbit out of the hat in those situations, but it is not what I want.听 I seem to deliver it under that situation, it's far from what I want," says Ben.

"If I had the time available, I would have got things done a lot quicker and earlier on," he adds.