Putting Down Roots at RHS Chelsea

The ‘St Mungo’s Putting Down Roots Garden‘ at the 2022 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, will see homelessness charity St Mungo’s partner with award winning social enterprise landscape design studio Cityscapes, to present one of the largest show gardens.

The garden embodies the partnership between the two organisations as they work together to help people recovering from homelessness develop their confidence, learn new skills and rebuild their lives.

The charity supports people to recover from homelessness across London and the South of England and has been given the opportunity to create a show garden through Project Giving Back, which is generously funding the garden.

The garden designed by Darryl Moore and Adolfo Harrison of Cityscapes, (pictured left) features an urban pocket park, highlighting how people and plants can be brought together in a city environment and the ways in which green spaces provide personal and social, health and wellbeing benefits.

Large planters throughout the garden will provide a sense of height and enclosure and a pavilion and seating provides opportunities for reflection and respite from the pressures of city life.

Once the event is over, the garden will continue to provide social and environmental benefits when it is relocated to a new permanent home in London Bridge.

During the last few years, St Mungo’s has developed a number of successful ‘training gardens’ creating opportunities for people experiencing homelessness to undertake accredited qualifications and improve their wellbeing.

Cityscapes is a not-for-profit social enterprise, with projects transforming neglected and underused spaces into multi-functional places, bringing together people and plants.

St Mungo’s Chief Executive Steve Douglas CBE commented that when you think about people who have experienced homelessness, teaching them gardening might not be the first thing that comes to mind: “But you’d be amazed at the change we see in people at Putting Down Roots. We have seen the important role that gardening activities can have on personal recovery and, furthermore, how horticulture can become a viable first step into employment for many people,” he said.

“There’s something about being outdoors, learning a new skill and seeing all the hard work come to life which really brings out the best in people.

“We are so grateful to Project Giving Back and to Cityscapes for this amazing opportunity to showcase our fantastic Putting Down Roots project on an international stage, and we know that clients and staff will relish the opportunity. We’ll be keen to follow the garden’s progress, and to see it in all its glory at Chelsea,” continued Steve.

Darryl Moore, Cityscapes Director and co-founder said they are delighted to be working with St Mungo’s on this fantastic project: “Over the last decade, we have seen first-hand the hugely positive effect Putting Down Roots can have on people as they recover from homelessness.

“We are so happy to continue to be able to empower St Mungo’s clients, and to be part of such a wonderful event which will highlight the amazing work of Putting Down Roots,” said Darryl.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show runs from 24th May to 28th May 2022.

Photo credits: Garden image ©Cityscapes