Mirren's meaty role as a flesh-eating plant

12 April 2012

Dame Helen Mirren called on Londoners not to neglect their gardens today - as she unveiled a new carnivorous plant at the Chelsea Flower Show that has been named after her.

The actress urged householders to grow anything, including fruit and vegetables, to keep the city green.

She said: "I hope in future we don't see gardens being abandoned and neglected. Even if it's just filled with potatoes that would be something. [I also hope] that with recycling we are realising the error of our ways. You have to use everything."

Dame Helen, 65, unveiled the new hybrid Nepenthes "Helen" at the Borneo Exotics stand in the Great Pavilion. The hybrid was created in Sri Lanka by Borneo Exotics.

Visiting the B&Q show garden, dedicated to "growing you own food" and centred on a nine-metre-high "vertical allotment" glass tower, the actress said she was inspired by the garden's message that Londoners need to use more of their spaces to grow food.

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow performed an impromptu catwalk through the middle of the B&Q garden as she promoted her healthy eating cookery book Notes From My Kitchen Table. She told the designers, Laurie Chetwood and Patrick Collins: "Your garden is so beautiful - because it's edible."

Dozens of film and TV stars were at the opening of the Royal Horticultural Society show. TV gardener Diarmuid Gavin defied an RHS edict and the blustery weather with a promise to offer some lucky visitors to the show a ride in his gravity defying "garden in the sky." The former Gardener's World presenter made the pledge after the bright pink pod was lifted 82 feet above the 11-acre showground. Gusty weather yesterday had threatened to ground the pod, known as the Wonkavator, which can seat six and provides sweeping views across the Thames.

It has been criticised because, although celebrities such as Alan Titchmarsh would be allowed on "flights", regular visitors would not. RHS officials had said this would not be possible because of queues and crushes. But Gavin, designer of the £250,000 Irish Sky Garden, said: "I will invite people. I will pick them out and say, 'Would you like a ride in my flying machine?' I will ask anyone with a warm smile, we'll wink at each other."

The 30-tonne cradle, inspired by movie Avatar, is described as "a flying machine, hanging Eden and reflective launch pad". Traditionalists have called it "the height of stupidity". It hangs above 25 pools and a garden of grasses and pines. The pod is planted with flowers such as hostas, lilies and peonies.

Meanwhile Vanessa Redgrave launched a rose in memory of her daughter Natasha Richardson.

The Queen will make her traditional tour with other royals this evening.

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