A north-east potato enthusiast was this week awarded a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show for the second year in a row.
Morrice Innes and his wife Ann took were presented the medal in recognition of their display showcasing more than 140 potatoes.
The display, which included many varieties bred at the James Hutton Institute and from the Commonwealth Potato Collection, also showed the history of the potato while demonstrating its versatility in both the garden and kitchen.
Mr Innes, who has nearly 700 varieties of tatties at his home at Oldtown, Newmachar, said: “We’ve tried to tell the tale of the potato by highlighting a vast array of skin colours, shapes, and sizes while suggesting the best uses of each variety and the places where they come from.
“You will not find many of these varieties for sale at the supermarket. Hopefully, we’ll help inspire more people to grow potatoes and to try some of the more unusual forms while they are at it.”
Last year he was presented the Royal Northern Agricultural Society local award, which is run in conjunction with Aberdeen and Northern Marts, in recognition of his work preserving and promoting potatoes.
