Acoustic garden will be showpiece event at Chelsea

A leading disability charity is preparing to make Chelsea Flower Show history by creating an acoustic garden. Papworth Trust is working with world famous solo percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie on their ‘Together We Can’ garden, celebrating the charity’s inclusive vision for disability.

It will be the first time the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has hosted an acoustic garden, which has taken the concept of a sensory and accessible outdoor space to a new level with Papworth Trust and Dame Evelyn hoping the project will raise awareness of inclusivity and act as a legacy for both disabled people and gardeners alike. The garden, which is in the Artisan Category at the 2016 RHS Chelsea Flower Show is designed by Chelsea Gold medal winner Peter Eustance and students from Brunel University.

Features will include a water marimba which will transform the garden into a musical instrument amid a backdrop of natural woodland copse, interwoven with features that evoke the equipment of a recording studio. The overall form of the garden will be reminiscent of the structure of the ear.

Dame Evelyn said: “I wanted to use the subtleties of the garden and the elements of nature to bring together something that is around us and part of our everyday life. I want people to look at the garden and see and feel an orchestra and then look at their garden or other gardens with a different viewpoint.

“We will have a water feature which is not so unusual as water itself creates its own sounds. You can get particular types of rhythms from many garden objects while I will also use as many natural products as possible. I have not been to Chelsea before so I am very excited to be part of it.”

Dame Evelyn, who is profoundly deaf, said she was delighted to work with Papworth Trust, admitting she shared common goals with the charity around inclusiveness and the ‘Together We Can’ message.

Dame Evelyn is also delighted to be working with the students who have brought in a technological aspect to enhance the sounds and make people aware and experience the subtleties of the garden.

Papworth Trust offers essential support and care to disabled and older people, their families and carers. For more information on the charity log onto:  www.papworthtrust.org.uk

Picture credits: All pictures are ©Papworth Trust