Thoughts on a show garden

In January, Eliza Wimperis, our Assistant Landscape Architect, went along to this year’s RHS Designer Day at Three Counties Showground in Malvern to hear from some of the people behind the RHS Malvern Spring Festival about the process of producing a show garden.

She returned full of enthusiasm to apply for a show garden of our own for RHS Malvern next year.

With upcoming legislation changes surrounding the biodiversity of a site - the requirement to measurably improve the existing ecological value after the scheme has been implemented - lots of our projects now require us to make use of native species when designing planting schemes, enhancing the biodiversity and habitats of the site. We would love to showcase the wild beauty of a garden designed with native species, highlighting how the Biodiversity Net Gain legislation potential restrictions in terms of species choices can actually open the door for a new perspective on planting design.

We also think that this could be the perfect opportunity to put a spotlight on the changing climate, how we have to adapt our planting choices to match the demands of the environment. Our immediate thoughts are also concerned with the sustainability of garden design and in particular ways we can reduce carbon through design choices and materiality, demonstrating through our show garden how designing with a nature first perspective doesn’t affect the beauty of a garden.

Watch this space for more information on this exciting new venture.