Sunshine on Tatton
No one can complain at the wonderful weather during the 2021 RHS Tatton Park Flower Show, with plenty of sunshine welcoming visitors to the beautiful surroundings of the historic estate.
Thousands of visitors were able to enjoy the show in a safe and outdoor environment and after the long months of lock-downs and restrictions, it was certainly a joy to be able to wander around the colourful show gardens, browse once again at the various stalls and enjoy the scents and sensations of the Floral Marquee.
Across the Show, 12 medals were awarded in the Gardens categories: Best Tatton Garden (Gold) was awarded to Robert Hardy for the ‘MacMillan Legacy Garden‘ (pictured above).
Gold was also awarded to designer Neil Sutcliffe for ‘The Cancer Research UK Legacy Garden‘.(pictured above).
In the Back to Back Garden category, Best Back to Back went to Leon Davis for the ‘United Utilities Garden of Resilience‘ (Gold). This garden was also awarded the Best Construction Award. After the show the garden is being repositioned at RHS Garden Bridgewater. The garden provides practical ideas on the management, conservation and reuse of water while at the same time providing a place to relax and contemplate our own personal resilience. (pictured above)
Stephen Crisp, moderator for the Back to Back and Show Garden Panel commented that the Back to Back gardens this year used some really creative ideas and imaginative use of both plants and hard landscaping: “Real craftsmanship was demonstrated by many of the designers providing a slightly different flavour and angle of garden design with the quality of exhibits at Tatton Park getting higher and higher each year,” he said.
Two other gardens in the Tatton Gardens category, Pip Probert’s ‘Garden with a View‘ (pictured above) was awarded Silver Gilt as was ‘Breathe Easy‘ designed by Peter Lloyd.
The RHS Young Designer of the Year was awarded to Freddie Strickland for a design inspired by the sub-tropical gardens of Cornwall. Freddie’s design ‘On Tropic‘ (pictured above) takes an environmentally conscious approach, replacing traditional plants with a tropical palette that thrives in our warming climate.
Head of RHS Judging, James Alexander Sinclair, said that it was always a privilege to judge the Young Designer Gardens: “This year the quality was outstanding. Freddie Strickland’s garden was a breath of fresh air and showed an innovative use of planting, showing us what can be possible in a changing world.”
This year there were five gardens in the Young Designer Competition this year. We particularly liked Ellie Edkins ‘The Dreamscape Garden‘ (Bronze). Ellie has started her career as a garden designer just 12 months ago, having previously worked as an interior designer. Her garden proved popular with show visitors and we are sure we will hear more of her in the future. (pictured above)
Maximillian Parker-Smith’s ‘Earth Garden‘ was awarded a Silver-Gilt,and James Smith’s ‘Its Okay Not to be OK‘ was awarded Silver. All five gardens proved popular with show visitors and we can certainly look to the future with these talented young designers.
One designer making a welcome return to RHS Tatton is Anca Panait (pictured above on the garden). Her design for the ‘RHS Flower Power Garden‘, based on Werner’s ‘Nomenclature of Colours’, enchanted with a variety of red, orange/yellow, blue and green/white sections. Anca debuted at RHS Tatton as a finalist in the Young Designer Competition in 2017 and her return to the show heralded the largest garden she has designed so far. After the show the garden is being relocated to the Queen’s School, Chester, using very much the same design.
The People’s Choice Awards went to the ‘Shooting Star Children’s Hospice, Rehearse Garden‘, (above) designed by Emilie Bausager (Silver) – this garden was in the Young Designer of the Year Competition category. In the Back to Back category, ‘Petrus: Full Circle‘, designed by Rachael Bennion (Bronze) was awarded People’s Choice (pictured below).
In the Floral Marquee the best exhibit went to Holden Clough (Gold) for their display of hardy plants. Best exhibit in the Plant Hub went to the National Sweet Pea Society (Gold).
Photo credits/captions: Banner ©RHS/Tim Sandall; MacMillan Legacy ©RHS/Neil Hepworth; Cancer Research ©RHS/Neil Hepworth; United Utilities Garden: ©RHS/Tim Sandall; Garden with a View ©RHS/Neil Hepworth; On Tropic, ©Tim Howell; Dreamscape Garden ©Tim Howell; RHS Flower power Garden ©Tim Howell; Shooting Star Childrens Hospice ©RHS/Tim Sandall; Petrus: Full Circle ©Tim Howell – Tim Howell regularly posts on Twitter and Instagram @TimHowellX
