Mindful Of Detail At RHS Chatsworth 2019

RHS Chatsworth 2019  - learn more about London Stone's contribution to show gardens this year.

2019 sees RHS Chatsworth into its third year. With the inherently mindful qualities of gardening increasingly recognised, a new show category - the Mindfulness Gardens - concentrates on how gardens contribute to well-being and mental health.

Thrive Reflective Mind Garden

The Thrive Reflective Mind Garden, designed by Richard Rogers, focuses attention on a serene 1.8m high bronze face created by Simon Gudgeon. Reflected in the water of the pond, it represents our ability to reflect on our own thoughts and feelings.

DesignClad wall cladding combined with Indian sandstone

Featuring strongly is our DesignClad Steel Dark, which faces the raised beds and the walls that alternate with beech hedging along the boundaries.

DesignClad was supplied in bespoke-sized sheets and their large format contributes to the monolithic feel of the walls, as well as providing a strong, supportive background for the planting.

What particularly struck us was the way Richard combines this very modern material with the much more traditional look of riven stone. This is something that designers often shy away from, but he’s shown how blending the two can work well. The brown tones in Raj Green Sandstone Steps and setts picked up the rusted colouring of the DesignClad, while the riven surface and rock-faced leading edges of the steps complemented the distressed appearance of the “steel” elements. Winning a Silver Gilt, Richard’s design provides plenty of inspiration for small spaces.

Space Within

Part of the brief of the Mindfulness Gardens was to design a space that showed what mindfulness means to the designer. It was a subject that immediately appealed to Rae Wilkinson, who entered the Space Within garden.

In April she told the Sod Show podcast, “I wanted to create a meditation space as a garden, because I’ve done some meditation outside. I’ve done some forest bathing meditation and it’s been so powerful. This is a really good message and a good subject matter…I put the design together in a sort of rush of creativity.”

DesignBoard composite decking creates space

It’s a rush that won, not only Gold, but Best Mindfulness Garden. Rae put the meditational space in the centre of the garden, delineating it with a plinth of DesignBoard Luna on which to put the organically shaped pebble benches by sculptor Ben Barrell.

Luna is one of our most popular composite decking colours and it blends perfectly with the chosen gravel and Ben’s benches, adding to the natural feel of the design.

It also showed how composite decking can be used to create an illusion of space, as the direction of lay across the garden increases the feeling of width within the tiny 6 x 4 m area. In combination with the strong lines of the moon gates and lines of planting within the gravel, this slows the progression of the gaze to back of the garden.

To put the icing on the cake, Rae also won People’s Choice in the Mindfulness category.

The Wedgwood Garden

Meanwhile, over the Show Gardens, The Wedgwood Garden designed by Jamie Butterworth, managed to go a step further, with a tour de force that is the first garden in any RHS show to gain Gold, Best Show Garden, People’s Choice and Best Construction!

Britannia Buff Yorkstone, used as steps and copings, is a premium product. Its tight grain and even texture always give a luxury look, which is a nice touch for a garden sponsored by a company known for its high-quality wares.

The steel bridge

One of the stand-out details of the design is the steel bridge, set into the Yorkstone. “This was a tricky one,” says London Stone's Project Design Manager Piotr, who has been extremely busy with bespoke elements for show gardens at RHS Chelsea.

What is so seldom recognised by the casual onlooker is how a simple-looking detail such as this bridge needs a huge amount of thought, planning, trialling and readjustment, before reaching the stunning end result you see pictured.

The importance of communication

The research and development is only part of the whole process. You also have to keep an eye on the point when the job leaves the workshop and becomes someone else’s responsibility. “It’s difficult to imagine the best way fit something, especially when someone else will be doing the fitting.”

This is where constant dialogue is important. “There was good contact between me, Jamie and Rupert Keys [of Keyscape Gardens]” says Piotr. “We set up a WhatsApp group which showed all our messages to each other.”

The metalwork was fitted into the stone on site. “I explained to Rupert that the best way would be to fit the stone into the bridge with silicone.” The bridge and stone were put together and dropped into place. It took seven people to lift it into position!

“It was a great job,” adds Piotr. “The first time you do something it’s not simple and you learn from experience. The second time is quicker. This took longer than planned and it was a bit of struggle but the result is excellent. It’s great to be part of it.”

The bridge was only one detail, though it must surely have added in a bit of weight for that Construction award. Britannia Buff was also used to cope the retaining walls, for the bench, and steps around the garden. The steps, where you need something that will stand up to footfall, had a pencil-round profile but around the pond the extra-crisp edges were achieved by having the arris removed - something that wouldn’t have been advisable without the bridge.

A permanent fixture

In this, Wedgwood's 260^th anniversary year, Jamie was inspired by Josiah Wedgwood's son, John, who was a founding member of the RHS and wanted to use the power of plants to unite people. Jamie certainly united opinion with his design, and we’re delighted that it is being moved to the Wedgwood Estate to join past show gardens, including Jo Thompson’s from last year’s Chelsea Flower Show.

Many congratulations to all the designers and contractors involved in RHS Chatsworth 2019. If you’d like any more information on any of the products used, then don’t hesitate to contact us.

See more of how London Stone's materials have helped designers' show gardens during 2019.

Post updated: April 2023