Disused Quarry forms Chelsea inspiration

An Artisan garden at this year’s (2019) RHS Chelsea Flower Show will take its inspiration from a disused quarry site redesigned to create a usable outdoor space.

‘Walkers’ Forgotten Quarry Garden’ designed by Graham Bodle, reflects the quarry at Walkers Nurseries in Yorkshire and is designed to recapture the spirit found on the original site while at the same time making the most of old objects to create an atmospheric garden.

The garden includes bold industrial elements found in a quarry – a reused inspection tower will add height and structure while other reclaimed curiosities collected from quarries will create interest among the planting.

The garden offers examples of how reclaimed or reused items can add impact and drama, including rusty metals and weathered industrial objects as well as a small pond.

Planting will focus on large pines to add height, maturity and balance while foreground planting will be textural greens with rusty tones to pick out the hard materials. Conifers, ferns, grasses and marginals will all add to the planting.

Graham has exhibited at RHS Chelsea on several occasions and in 2017 was awarded a Gold Medal and Best Artisan Garden for his Walkers Wharf garden. This promises to be another unusual and interesting garden and we wish Graham all the best in the run-up to Chelsea.

Banner image ©Graham Bodle