2024 RHS Chelsea Sanctuary Gardens
The World Sanctuary Gardens at the 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show promise to highlight a diverse range of planting schemes designed to offer a place of peace and sanctuary. Below we highlight a brief description of each garden.
The Freedom from Torture Garden: A Sanctuary for Survivors
Designed by John Warland and Emma O’Connell and sponsored by Project Giving Back, this garden (pictured banner above) is a place of sanctuary, peace and hope where horticultural therapy calms and heals survivors of torture on their journey to recovery. It is an immersive garden where the visitor can engage in therapy with sculptural reams of willow dividing the space and a sinuous water rill offering both irrigation for the plants and restorative relaxation. Naturalistic planting embracing self-sustaining self-seeders and long-lived resilient woody plants, many of which can cope with extreme environments. After the show the garden will be relocated to the Freedom from Forture HQ in Finsbury Park, London.
Flood Re: The Flood Resilient Garden
Designed by Naomi Slade and Ed Barsley, for Flood Re, the garden is designed to be both a relatable and beautiful space to help reduce flood risk and to recover quickly after periods of heavy rainfall.
Planting is lush and green with pops of jewel-colours, yet tough and appropriate for a range of soil conditions. After the show the garden is being relocated at HR Wallingford in Oxfordshire. (Image © Naomi Slade and Ed Barsley)
World Child Cancer’s Nuturing Garden
Image © Giulio Giorgi)
Sponsored by Project Giving Back supporting World Child Cancer, this garden designed by Giulio Giorgi (pictured right) is designed as a sensory haven, bringing joy and the hope of escapism through nature for children undergoing cancer treatment. Low maintenance, resilient plants symbolise the countries supported by the charity to improve global child cancer survival rates. The planting scheme demonstrates a light soothing atmosphere with a leafy mix of silver-whites and blue-greys.
The garden planting varies in height to offer children of all ages to access the gardens with raised beds offering accessible planting. Soft touch plants, fragrant herbs, edibles, moss and miniature rock plants will encourage children to take an active role in the garden, seeing plants, along with their hopes for the future, grow and flourish.
The entire garden’s construction is made of low-carbon materials. After the show the garden is being relocated to CLIC House, Bristol, one of Young Lives vs Cancer’s Homes from Home.
Moroto no IE
Always one to look forward to, this garden by Chelsea favourite Kazuyuki Ishihara, depicts a garden when one small family lives a happy life and the whole city becomes happy. The theme is a garden that makes Kazuyuki Ishihara happy – we think it will make you happy as well. The sound of a waterfall, the colour of the autumn leaves, the tiny flowers blooming in the moss and the stunning wall greening, actively bring this garden alive. Acers, pines, irises and mosses are always key plants for this designer and he uses them to stunning effect.
Burma Skincare Initiative Spirit of Partnership Garden
Sponsored by the Burma Skincare Initiative with the support of Sanofi, British Dermatological Nursing Group and The No7 Beauty Company, this garden designed by Helen Olney tells the story of a global dermatological partnership with its experts supporting suppressed Burmese healthcare workers treating adults and children with terrible skin conditions. Myanmar’s diversity and its people is represented through different planting zones and features. There is a harmonious palette of plants found in Burma that will grow in the UK.
The Boodles National Gallery Garden
Designed by Catherine MacDonald, for sponsor Boodles, the garden is a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the National Gallery. Taking inspiration from paintings at the gallery, it evokes the spirit of many significant artworks. The planting theme is an abstract interpretation of pointillism, impressionism and brushstrokes, inspired by Seurat, Van Gogh and Monet Paintings. After the show the garden is hopefully being relocated, subject to planning consent, to rebuild part of the garden in front of the gallery, near the Getty Entrance.
Killik & Co: ‘Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees’ Garden
Designed by Baz Grainger, this garden is a scented, immersive haven in which to relax and unwind. A path of limestone and oak pavers winds through the garden and is wide enough to encourage conservation while walking together. Oak planters with built-in seating punctuate the space with scented flowers and foliage. The colour palette has been chosen for its calming properties with soft whites, pale lemons and pops of lavender. The planting has been chosen to be resilient in environments with less water and hotter dryer seasons. After the show the garden will be rehoused at houses of Killik & Co with the trees being returned to Landform HQ for a new project. Hard landscaping materials are being used in a schools project.
The Bridgerton Garden
Designed by Holly Johnson and sponsored by Netflix, this garden presents a secretive and secluded space, based on Penelope Featherington, a wallflower-like character from the upcoming series Bridgerton. A shaded space down one half of the garden alludes to themes of mystery, turmoil and defiance, layers of groundcover and ferns are intended to represent a network of secrets.
Planting reflects feelings of secrecy, growth and desire with a moongate acting as a portal into that person’s personal journey. Textural and whimsical, the planting gets more colourful and robust as the garden develops. Look out for the stone monolith carrying the inscription “Even a wallflower can bloom“.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show runs from 21st to 25th May, 2024, pleae visit www.rhs.org.uk for details.