RHS Chelsea Flower Show—Hospice UK Garden of Compassion
The Concept
The Garden of Compassion derives inspiration from Mallorca’s Olive Houses, situated within the foothills of the Tramuntana mountains, and the wider Northeast landscape characterising Durham, the Garden’s eventual permanent home. Comprising a series of rooms which strongly connect with their rocky landscape, the Garden draws on Durham’s regional heritage and natural materials, and is enveloped with climatically resilient, naturalistic and sensory Mediterranean planting.
The Sponsors
Hospice UK is the national charity for hospice and end of life care. The organisation promotes and protects hospice care for all and represents the community of over 200 hospices across the UK. The Garden was funded by Project Giving Back.
Design details
Structural planting is characterised by indigenous Mediterranean mountainous species with distinct sensory characteristics, including Arbutus andrachne, with its cinnamon tactile bark and deeply evergreen foliage, the mottled bark of Acer monspessulanum, sculptural multi-stemmed Pinus pinea, and scented foliage of Myrtus communis.
The naturalistic Mediterranean planting scheme defines paths formed from oversized reclaimed paving and surrounds Durham drystone walls and weathered Dolomitic limestone boulders to form a series of intimate spaces and textural micro-habitats. Craftsmanship is central to the design, manifesting a skilled, distinctly human touch:
The series of rustic water bowls, by ceramicist Thea Thompson, are inspired by the rugged Greek landscape and made from eco-friendly Roman cement, comprising crushed oyster shells, ash and lime.
Bespoke steam-bent benches were meticulously crafted by Mark Tungate from wind-felled oak from the northeast.
Rachel Chudley, a distinguished interior designer, collaborated with Guy Valentine to develop the pigments for clay rendered walls into unique colours which capture the essence of Mediterranean elements of Pinus pinea, the fiery hues of sunsets, and the rich ferrous soils of the region.
Planting was carefully grown and nurtured by Rymer Trees and Hortus Loci.
Photo credit
