For orchid growers throughout England, January is a very exciting time. While most of us are fighting through the January post-Christmas blues, orchid growers everywhere are preparing for the Royal Horticultural Society's Orchid Trophy Award. This award is given each January to the grower of the best orchid specimen of 2013.

This year saw the award go to one of Writhlington's most seasoned orchid specialists, fifteen-year-old Jacob Coles. He will receive his trophy at the Royal Horticultural Society's Awards Ceremony, in Westminster.

Jacob describes the plant as follows: "It is a fantastic specimen. It has been growing at Writhlington since 1993 and it is now enormous with over 180 flowers when it was in full bloom last spring."

The spectacular orchid will be flowering again in time for Writhlington's next Orchid Open Evening on Thursday, 6th March, with spectators and orchid enthusiasts

invited to attend between 5–9 p.m.

Teacher, Simon Pugh-Jones, said: "Jacob is an exceptional orchid grower and really deserves this national award. We, as a school, are very proud and feel honoured that we have had the chance to nurture his talents."