Aug 7
2024

The “Planet Good Earth“ show garden. Design and construction: Betongpark & Urban Organic

The central themes were again the use of natural materials and also reuse

Sustainability, here in the sense of the use of natural and also reused materials, was one of the central themes at the Chelsea Flower Show 2024 (21 – 24 May). This super event of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) brings around 168,000 visitors together in the London district every year and offers them not only thematic suggestions for flowers and plantings, but also advice, which around 4,150 of the visitors took advantage of this year.

Numerous show gardens dealt with individual topics or implement the content of their initiators using “green“ means. We looked around to see where natural stone played a role. It was striking how often the descriptions mentioned the absence of cement for the installations and the reuse of materials.
 

The “Planet Good Earth“ show garden (photo above) was about edible plants that can be found in the grass or grown around the house. The design was surprising: the centerpiece of the garden was a granite slab skate track. The idea was to recreate a normal environment and to get young people interested in the topic. “The garden has been created by a collective of skaters, food growers and parents who believe greenspace, excitement, and good food should be at the heart of our communities,” reads a description. After the show ends, the garden will be rebuilt in the community of Hay-on-Wye in Wales.
Design and construction: Betongpark & Urban Organic
 

The “Bridgerton Garden.“ Design: Holly Johnston; Execution: Stewart Landscape ConstructionThe “Bridgerton Garden“ is entered through a large “moongate” in a wall. Behind it, an enchanted area opens up with opportunities to sit down. It is reminiscent of the Netflix series about Penelope Featherington and her family.
Design: Holly Johnston; Execution: Stewart Landscape Construction
 

Garden “Killik & Co: ‘Money Doesn’t Grow On Trees’.“ Design: Baz Grainger; Execution: Landform ConsultantsAnother retreat is staged in the garden “Killik & Co: ‘Money Doesn’t Grow On Trees’.“ It is intended for families to sit together. A path made of limestone slabs leads to a pond. This is fed by a water pipe that runs along the top of the stone posts.
Design: Baz Grainger; Execution: Landform Consultants
 

Many of the show gardens were about health and medicine
 

The “Terrence Higgins Trust Garden.“ Design: Matthew Childs; Execution: Yoreland Design LtdThe “Terrence Higgins Trust Garden“ commemorated the goal of having no new cases of HIV by 2030. An ensemble was designed like an abandoned quarry with a water surface with rising and falling levels. A boulder commemorates the dead and at the same time shows the transition to better times.
Design: Matthew Childs; Execution: Yoreland Design Ltd
 

The “Burma Skincare Initiative Spirit of Partnership“ garden. Design: Helen Olney; Execution: Conquest Creative SpacesThe “Burma Skincare Initiative Spirit of Partnership“ garden referred to the global initiative of that name, which supports dermatologists in the Asian country. They mainly use herbal active ingredients. A bench made as dry stones wall used for resting, which takes the shape of the 28th letter of the Myanmar alphabet. It names the word Lar, which means “coming together.“
Design: Helen Olney; Execution: Conquest Creative Spaces
 

The “Freedom from Torture Garden“: A Sanctuary for Survivors.“ Design: John Warland & Emma O’Connell; Execution: Living LandscapesThe “Freedom from Torture Garden“: A Sanctuary for Survivors“ is designed as a place of peace and tranquility. It is intended to help torture victims to distance themselves from their experiences and return to normality.
Design: John Warland & Emma O’Connell; Execution: Living Landscapes
 

The “Sanctum Garden.” Design: Sonja Kalkschmidt; Execution: Rupert Crowton RowarthThe “Sanctum Garden” has a dark wooden seating area in the center and a protective stone wall behind it. The description states: “As a tranquil refuge, Sanctum provides a space to escape from what can feel like the relentless digital overload and hectic pace of corporate life.”
Design: Sonja Kalkschmidt; Execution: Rupert Crowton Rowarth
 

Water appeared as a theme in several projects
 

The “mgr Changing Tides Garden.” Design: Lucy Mitchell, Execution: Big Fish LandscapesThe “mgr Changing Tides Garden” recreated a coastline without surf. It showed small pebbles and large chunks on whose surface plants have conquered habitats.
Design: Lucy Mitchell, Execution: Big Fish Landscapes
 

The “Flood Re: The Flood Resilient Garden.” Design: Naomi Slade & Dr Ed Barsley; Execution: Belderbos Landscapes, in association with Water ArtisansThe “Flood Re: The Flood Resilient Garden” was dedicated to the topic of heavy rain. Options were considered for how to install water holes or collecting containers in a normal home garden and still keep the garden accessible.
Design: Naomi Slade & Dr Ed Barsley; Execution: Belderbos Landscapes, in association with Water Artisans
 

The “MOROTO no IE” garden. Design: Kazuyuki Ishihara; Execution: G-Lion GroupThe “MOROTO no IE” garden was primarily about adding greenery to walls when there is plenty of moisture. Thick cushions of moss make the sharp edges of the stones disappear.
Design: Kazuyuki Ishihara; Execution: G-Lion Group

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)

Photos: RHS

See also:

(07.08.2024, USA: 08.07.2024)