The Arthritis Research UK Garden
Site RHW/1
Designer Chris Beardshaw
www.arthritisresearchuk.org
www.chrisbeardshaw.com
This year’s Arthritis Research UK Garden, designed by Chris Beardshaw, reflects the
personal journey and emotions of someone with arthritis, from lack of understanding and
confusion following a diagnosis, to a point where they are informed about the disease and are able to manage their pain. This journey is represented across three key areas. The shaded, woodland Veiled Garden
features a contemporary retreat and sculpture and a stepping stone pathway that leads to the Lucid Garden. This open, formal area features a reflective pool with a focal sculpture and offers a sense of clarity. In the slightly sunken Radiant Garden, exuberant, vibrant planting provides warmth, openness and confidence as the person with arthritis learns to manage their condition and keep active, doing the things they love. A dense canopy of woodland trees is under- planted with plants and shrubs including Rosa glauca, Mertansia virginica, Trillium luteum, Digitalis purpurea ‘Snow Thimble’, Corydalis ‘Blackberry Wine’ and Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’.
The Lucid Garden with a white planted zone begins to weave itself under the woodland canopy. The white and green palette of plants is accented with the occasional sparkle of bright blue.
Plants include Dianthus ‘Haytor White’, Anthyrium nipponicum pictum, Euphorbia ‘White Swan’ and Astrantia ‘White Giant’. A reflective pool with a key sculpture helps give a sense of clarity before moving forwards into the slightly sunken Radiant Garden where there are warm, vibrant colours of pinks, purples, oranges and blues. Plants such as Iris ‘Supreme Sultan’,Lupinus ‘Masterpiece, Lunaria ‘Corfu Blue’, Tanacetum parthenium, Oenothera versicolor and Anchusa ‘Loddon Royalist’ provide a sense of warmth, openness and confidence as the person with arthritis learns to manage their condition and keep active, doing the things they love. The garden highlights the journey that over 10 million people in the UK experience when faced with a diagnosis of arthritis to raise awareness of how Arthritis Research UK can help support people with arthritis to manage their condition through their information and funding of life-changing research. Fundamental to the story of the garden is the direct link between the sponsor and designer, Chris Beardshaw. Chris was diagnosed with a form of rheumatoid arthritis in his early teens, but has been able to manage his arthritis and is, therefore, a perfect role model of how you can live a successful and active life whilst living with the condition. Chris has designed seven RHS medal-winning gardens at the RHS Shows at Hampton Court Palace and at Chelsea. In 2012, The Arthritis Research UK Garden was awarded the People’s Choice Award at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and was awarded a Silver Gilt medal.
B&Q Sentebale
‘Forget-me-not’ Garden
Site MA16
Designer Jinny Blom
Jinny Blom’s design is inspired by the charity
Sentebale, which means “Forget-Me-Not” in
Sesotho, the language spoken in Lesotho, Africa.
HRH Prince Harry spent time in Lesotho during his gap year working with some of Lesotho’s most vulnerable children and orphans. He felt compelled to help more and, in 2006, he founded Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of the Lesotho Royal family. The garden at RHS Chelsea has been designed to educate people about Lesotho’s
‘Forgotten Kingdom’ and more importantly, Sentebale’s role in s upporting Lesotho’s most
vulnerable children, many of whom are victims of extreme poverty and Lesotho’s HIV/AIDs epidemic. The garden is a contemporary, conceptual evocation of the mountains, round houses and unusual blanket designs that are the national costume. It aims to express not only the beauty and rich culture, but also the inaccessibility and fragility of the country and its people. The garden features textural planting and muted colours to paint a picture, using plants
compatible with the conditions in Lesotho. The mountainous area of the garden will be planted
with pines, to mimic the scrubby evergreen foliage
found clinging sparsely to the mountains of Lesotho, and the silvery foliage of Hippophae rhamnoides, which can cope with the very varied conditions and colonises rough land. It will be under-planted with plants such as Acaena,
Trifolium William, Silene fimbriata and Papaver glaucum. The semi-dry conditions a the foot of the mountain are represented by Acaena and Papaver glaucum as well as Salvia species, Nemesia varieties and Myosotis arvensis (forget-me-nots). Below the mountain, there is a damp valley. In Lesotho, mass deforestation is being
ameliorated by planting willow in the valley delta, so old Willow pollards will create a silvery
screen in the garden, and accentuate the dampness. Amongst these will be plants such as,
Ajuga reptans, Anthriscus ‘Raven’s Wing’, Astrantia species, Darmera peltata, Rheum palmatum, silene dioica, Cyperus species, Osmunda regalis and Myosotis arvensis. Hard-landscaping elements include a pavilion of laser-cut birch plywood, and rendered block work, hand painted with a Lesotho design. B&Q has previously exhibited at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2011 with The B&Q Garden, designed by Laurie Chetwood and Patrick Collins. Jinny Blom designed gardens at RHS Chelsea in 2002, 2006 and 2007. In 2002 she designed a garden in collaboration with HRH The Prince of Wales, commemorating his grandmother, HRH The Queen Mother, who passed away as the garden was being made. Sentebale has never previously exhibited at the show.