Perennial charity garden for main avenue
For the first time at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, garden charity Perennial will feature a show garden on main avenue at the prestigious show (24th to 28th May 2022).
The ‘Perennial Garden “With Love”‘ will be designed by Richard Miers who will also be making his solo debut appearance at the Show. Richard is no stranger to RHS Chelsea, however, as he has helped Piet Oudolf and Arne Maynard with their Chelsea show gardens previously. Perennial has had a presence at RHS Chelsea for the past 25 years including trade stands, floral exhibits and a Great Pavilion Garden in 2019.
Perennial, a charity that works to directly support people in horticulture and their families was formed in 1839 as the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society. Today, the charity has a network of caseworkers and debt advisers across the UK and the Chelsea garden will be a tribute to their support for those in the horticultural industry. It is inspired and highlights the horticultural family of growers, designers, gardeners, landscapers and ground staff who are offered support by the charity and represents a celebration of love.
The garden also echoes Richard’s belief that gardens are a gift of love, between those who create and nurture them and those who visit and enjoy them. He admits that the concept for the garden has been a design that’s been in his head for many years and hopes that it will raise awareness of the free help and support Perennial provides to those working in and retired from horticulture.
Richard (pictured left) points out that there are so many varied skills that come together to create a main avenue garden with over 50 people directly involved in this one: “That’s just a fraction of all the skilled jobs in horticulture. It’s a hugely rewarding industry to be in but it can also be a precarious career.
“Perennial has supported people in horticulture and their families for over 180 years. It’s a privilege to be part of an organisation that gives something back to our horticultural family of growers, designers, gardeners, landscapers and ground staff,” he said.
“I would invite anyone who cherishes a much-loved green space to check in on the people who help shape it and let them know about Perennial,” concludes Richard.
Peter Newman, Perennial’s chief executive said: “Richard’s beautiful garden represents the very best of horticulture – art, craft, skill, collaboration and love are all present in abundance. We are very excited about how powerfully it will reach those who either need our help or would like to support us in our purpose of building better futures for people in horticulture and their families.”
The design reflects Richard’s strong sense of geometry and his mastery of classical design. It is presented with a soft and elegant twist and reintroduces the tradition of taking a walk around a garden. Hornbeam hedging gently encloses the garden providing a feeling of shelter and security while eight-flat topped, hawthorn trees provide structure, symmetry and repetition and flank the central rill.
The design includes four multi-stem Parrotia persica trees adding a natural element and contrast with clipped domes of Taxus baccata and Prunus lusitanica. The predominantly green palette is softened by gentle soft white and plum tones in the underplanting and borders.
London based Richard, has been designing gardens for 26 years and is passionate about the industry he works in. He has been named among the top 10 garden designers by House and Garden Magazine and was chosen to represent the UK at the Gardening World Cup in Nagasaki.
For more information about The Perennial Garden ‘With Love’ by Richard Miers, including a video of the garden, please visit https://perennial.org.uk/home/gardens/the-perennial-garden-rhs-chelsea-2022/
Photo credits: All images ©Richard Miers/Perennial
