Pictured above: Sue Hoy (centre), who received her medal from Princess Alexandra (right) watched by RHS President Elizabeth Banks (left)

The gardensupplies.co.uk team is in celebratory mood after hearing that its very own gardening expert Sue Hoy has collected an industry accolade.  

Sue -  who regularly pens monthly columns and blogs and answers  customers' questions for the Snitterby-based online garden products business -  has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Harlow Car Medal. 

This honour is conferred on people who have made a significant contribution  to horticulture in the North of England, and Sue is one of only two people to  receive it this time around. 

The well-known broadcaster, writer and blogger, who lives near Brigg, is also a popular speaker  and was formerly head gardener at Normanby Hall, near Scunthorpe. 

Sue was thrilled to be presented with her medal by HRH Princess Alexandra at the RHS' President's Dinner at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. 

She was among 15 prominent horticulturists, who received a variety of awards, during the high-profile event. 

They included former RHS president and treasurer Giles Coode-Adams, a driving force behind the RS Bicentenary Glasshouse at RHS Garden Wisley, Maurice Foster - one of Britain's  most distinguished plantsmen and a world authority on many hardy plants - and Richard Webb. 

They were presented with the  highest RHS accolade, the Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH) - which is given to British horticulturists, resident in the UK, whom the RHS Council believes are deserving of a special honour. 

Sue, who posed for a photograph with HRH Princess Alexandra and Society president Elizabeth Banks, said: 

"Receiving the medal is a fantastic honour - just for doing something which I actually love.  I love the practicalities of gardening, and the fact that there is always something new to learn, but passing on my knowledge to others and inspiring them to garden has been one of the great joys of my career." 

Gardensupplies.co.uk director Zoe Henderson said: "Sue is brilliant when it comes to giving our customers and website visitors, great, down-to-earth advice, and her monthly columns are very popular. 

"We are delighted that the RHS has recognised her work by the presentation of the Harlow Car medal."