Grass Clippings
As we roll into May, the collective thoughts of the Course and Grounds Teams turn to the weather – will there be rain? Won’t there? We don’t want it to rain on anyone’s parade but any rain at the moment is most welcome. Water being removed from the ground by moisture evaporation and the thousands of trees on the course and across the estate needs to be replaced. We are irrigating now on regular evening cycles but it’s no substitute for the real thing. The grass courts have benefitted from the dry weather as it has allowed them to firm up faster than predicted. It also helps the golf course greens to run fast too and also the croquet lawns. With our bore hole source of water, we have reserves to sustain the requirements of the grounds section. But if the continued dry weather in our region continues into the summer, then we shall need to be cautious and I’m preparing my best rain dance in preparation.
May means one simple thing to many horticulturalists, Chelsea Flower Show. After a three-year period of no spring event, its back firmly on the calendar and the hot ticket on the London social scene. If you wish to avoid the hoards queuing for everything from refreshments to bathroom breaks, then the BBC gardening team will be continuing their full coverage of the event so you can enjoy with a Pimm’s from your armchair. Here is a rundown of the main designers’ profiles and the people behind the twelve show gardens being built as I write by frantic teams of staff within the grounds of the Royal Chelsea Hospital:-
The Mind Garden designed by Andy Sturgeon
Andy is one of the UK’s leading garden designers. His modern designs are a fusion of traditional materials and contemporary styling, which have become known for their timeless architectural qualities, innovative planting and sculptural characteristics. Andy has won six RHS Gold medals at Chelsea Flower Show, he was also awarded the coveted ‘Best in Show’ award in both 2010 and 2016.
Medite Smartply ‘Building the Future’ designed by Sarah Eberle
Qualified as a Landscape Architect in 1980 and since worked extensively in commercial landscape and garden design including lecturing throughout the United Kingdom. Sarah has five RHS Gold Medals Best in Show at Hampton Court and two awards for design innovation.
The RNLI Garden designed by Chris Beardshaw
Chris Beardshaw was formally trained in Horticulture at Pershore College and holds an BA Hons in Landscape Architecture. He has numerous design awards, including 13 RHS Gold Medals, the latest was for his Morgan Stanley Garden for the NSPCC at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2018 which also was awarded the coveted Best Show Garden Award six times. He has also been voted for the People’s Choice Award five times. He has had a longstanding broadcasting career and is a regular speaker in horticulture and life experiences.
A Rewilding Britain Landscape by Lulu Urquhart and Adam Hunt
Adam Hunt and Lulu Urquhart set out on a design partnership adventure almost 15 years ago. Both are passionate plant-lovers, environmentalists and landscape designers, their landscape design practice follows their instincts for following a more unconventional method of design.
Hands of Mangrove – Tayshan Hayden-Smith/Danny Clarke
Hayden-Smith and Clarke’s garden, which has Chelsea veteran Cleve West as an advisor. The garden is born out of the Grow2Know movement which is a symbol of coexistence, (bio)diversity, and resilience, the garden is reflective of the community of Notting Hill, where the Mangrove Nine stood up in the face of adversity for the Mangrove restaurant, inspiring positive change for future generations. Not the conventional background for Chelsea entrants but welcome buck from the trend from the norm’.
The New Blue Peter Garden – Discover Soil by designer Juliet Sargeant
Juliet has a BA (Hons) in Garden Design and is a Registered Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. She is committed to her own continuing professional development and keeping up to date with new products and technologies.
St Mungo’s Putting Down Roots Garden by Cityscapes (Darryl Moore and Adolfo Harrison)
Darryl Moore FRSA is an award winning garden and landscape designer, with a Post Graduate Diploma in Garden Design. He is Director and founder, along with Adolfo Harrison, of the innovative urban landscape organisation Cityscapes. Creating temporary and permanent parks, gardens and installations that ensure ecological, economic and social sustainability.,
Brewin Dolphin Garden designed by Paul Hervey-Brookes
Paul Hervey-Brooks studied at Pershore College of Horticulture in 1997. His travels after college eventually led me to study at The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and later in France for Baron de Rothschild. He has created show gardens at venues such as the Chelsea Flower Show and Hampton Court alongside being invited to exhibit on an international stage in the United States, France, New Zealand, Japan and Australia.
Morris & Co. – garden designed by Ruth Willmott
Ruth Willmott graduated from Cambridge University and spent over a decade in management consulting. In 2009, she followed her passion for garden design and qualified from the English Gardening School with a distinction and was awarded the top student design prize. She set up her garden design practice in 2010 and undertakes residential and commercial projects in the UK and abroad. She was awarded a gold medal in 2013, a silver-gilt and Best Fresh Garden (people’s choice) in 2015 and again in 2017 a silver-gilt and Best Fresh Garden (people’s choice) for a second time.
‘The Meta Garden: Growing the Future’ designed by Joe Perkins
Joe Perkins studied garden design at the Oxford College of Garden Design, graduating with distinction in 2002. This was followed a few years later by a Masters degree in Landscape Architecture from Greenwich University.
Over his career, Joe has worked for many high profile landscape and garden designers and has been a director and manager of a respected landscape construction company, including 12 years of involvement in planning and delivering gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show and other RHS shows
The Perennial Garden ‘With Love’, designed by Richard Miers
Richard Miers has been designing gardens for over 26 years, both in the UK and abroad. In 2012 Richard was chosen to represent the United Kingdom in the Gardening World Cup in Nagasaki, Japan with his garden ‘Serenity’. Despite being rooted in this time-honoured tradition, his gardens are clean and classically contemporary in style, with a strong sense of geometry.
The RAF Benevolent Fund Garden, reflecting on the Battle of Britain and designed by John Everiss
John Everiss has been a professional garden designer and landscaper for over 25 years. Since graduating from Myerscough college John has gained valuable experience in both designing and creating timeless yet practical spaces that allow people to enjoy and embrace a new garden experience. John’s work has been recognised by the RHS on multiple occasions achieving gold at both the Tatton Park and Chelsea flower show designs.
Grass Clippings is taking a break for a month or so but will be back in late summer.