GARDEN DESIGN
HARROWDEN SUPPORTS CUTTING EDGE GARDEN DESIGN
The great challenge as a supplier is to be able to see the final garden when everything has been supplied, transported, planted and finished. Nine times out of ten we only ever see a garden in its early stages with none of the finesse of the final design.
So, it was a great pleasure to not only support the development of a new garden design but to also be able to see the final version in all its glory.
The garden in question was developed by a group of horticulture students from Derby College under the supervision of Mike Baldwin. The garden was designed in collaboration with Derby College, The Derbyshire Historic Building Trust and Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust and focussed on the Bonsall Field Barn Restoration Project.
The students were all studying Level 3 Horticulture at the college’ s Broomfield Hall campus and had to base the design and delivery of the garden on their own knowledge and experience.
The garden featured a restored field barn within a setting inspired by the Peak District village of Bonsall. The design also included dry stone walling which is typical of the area and a limestone path representing the Limestone Way. Significantly, UK native plants formed the majority of the planting around a dew pond. It also featured a representation of a disused lead mine shaft featuring T’ Owd Man of Bonsall. Planting was designed to be in keeping with the area, including a wildflower meadow and ornamentals which thrive on limestone sites.
Creating the show garden proved to be a wonderful opportunity for the students to do a real-life project. They demonstrated a huge range of skills and the widespread knowledge gained during their study programme.
The horticulture study programme was specially devised by lecturer Mike. It was designed to bring together skills and knowledge in surveying, design, plantsmanship and construction. So, ideal for students who were looking to join or establish a gardening business.
28 www. landud. co. uk Follow us @ ludmagazine