THE Eric Young Orchid Foundation has once again been covered in glory at the 18th World Orchid Conference in Dijon, France, winning nearly 40 awards, including Best Botanic Garden or Institution.

The conference, held jointly with a large flower show called Florissimo, was attended by 250,000 people during its 11-day duration last month and featured around 60 orchid exhibits from around the world.

Five members of staff from the Trinity-based foundation travelled to Dijon and spent two and a half hours building an 18-square metre exhibit boasting cut orchids set against natural foliage and a water feature.

‘The large number of people visiting the show was overwhelming,’ said foundation curator Chris Purver.

‘From the minute the doors opened to the public at 9 am each day the entire exhibition hall was a mass of people.

We found it very difficult to attend the exhibit, such was the interest in our orchids and display.’ The judges were impressed, too, selecting the foundation for such major awards as Reserve Champion Exhibit, Best Botanic Garden or Institution, Best Miltonia, Best Paphiopedilum hybrid, Best Phragmipedium plus more than 30 other awards for individual orchids, mainly cymbidium, miltonia, odontoglossum, paphiopedilum and phragmipediums.