Garden Tour: A Jewel-coloured and Wildlife-friendly English Garden
Take a tour of this gold medal-winning garden designed for community and wildlife to coexist and flourish
Victoria Harrison
21 May 2015
Editor, Houzz UK and Ireland
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show always raises the bar for garden design and this year the Homebase Urban Retreat garden stood out like a colourful jewel on Main Avenue. Designed by Adam Frost as an urban community space, the garden buzzes with colour, texture and interest and has community spirit at its very heart. There are hidden design features nestled throughout, including a wildlife garden high up on the roof of the pavilion and two secret doors set into the hedge borders. The garden was awarded a gold medal by the RHS judges. Take a look around below.
Photography: Victoria Harrison
Photography: Victoria Harrison
Garden at a Glance
Designer Adam Frost
Garden name The Homebase Urban Retreat Garden, in association with Macmillan Cancer Support
Location RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015
That’s interesting The garden pavilion has a wildlife lawn and beehive tucked away up on the roof
The garden is divided up into neatly zoned sections of water, lawn and planting, with a cedar-clad pavilion at the far end. A curved wooden path meanders through and connects these different sections, taking visitors on a tour of the garden before they reach the pavilion.
There is also a perimeter path running the length of the garden accessed by two doors set into the perimeter hedging. Neat squares of grass connect and link the two paths, offering plenty of routes for visitors to crisscross the space.
Designer Adam Frost
Garden name The Homebase Urban Retreat Garden, in association with Macmillan Cancer Support
Location RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015
That’s interesting The garden pavilion has a wildlife lawn and beehive tucked away up on the roof
The garden is divided up into neatly zoned sections of water, lawn and planting, with a cedar-clad pavilion at the far end. A curved wooden path meanders through and connects these different sections, taking visitors on a tour of the garden before they reach the pavilion.
There is also a perimeter path running the length of the garden accessed by two doors set into the perimeter hedging. Neat squares of grass connect and link the two paths, offering plenty of routes for visitors to crisscross the space.
Two ‘secret’ doors set into the perimeter hedge lend a whimsical element to the garden design. However, the razor-sharp hedging, neat concrete frames and smart wooden doors ensure the design still feels contemporary and urban. The clean lines also offer a visual contrast to the romantic planting.
A granite channel cutting across the garden introduces a dark ribbon of water through the space. Circular stepping stones offer a playful contrast to the linear lines of the garden and add visual interest, as well as providing a fun way of crossing the water.
The garden has been designed as a space for community and wildlife to coexist and flourish and the planting reflects this. Bee-friendly plants, such as irises (Iris sibirica) and foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea ‘Pam’s Choice’) provide the pollen and nectar so essential for bees, as well as adding height and visual drama to the space.
See easy ways to create a bee-friendly garden
See easy ways to create a bee-friendly garden
The cedar-clad pavilion provides welcome cover for individuals or groups as a retreat from the midday sun or a snug shelter from passing rain showers. The winding path flows right through the garden and into the pavilion without a break, seamlessly connecting the indoor and outdoor spaces.
The room could also act as a gathering space for group activities or school visits, strengthening the community spirit of the garden.
The room could also act as a gathering space for group activities or school visits, strengthening the community spirit of the garden.
The colour palette of the garden is rich and bold. The lush foliage of the trees and hedges offers a strong backdrop for the jewel colours of the plants, such as the crimson plume thistles (Cirsium rivulare ‘Atroperpereum’), orange geums (Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’) and bright blue irises (Iris sibirica).
The dark granite water channel and stepping stones also provide a contrasting backdrop against which the bright hues of the flowers can really sing.
The dark granite water channel and stepping stones also provide a contrasting backdrop against which the bright hues of the flowers can really sing.
Adam has made the most of every single surface in the garden by adding a green roof to the pavilion (just visible here). This wildlife-friendly space houses a wildflower lawn and a beehive, creating a mini haven for bees and insects and ensuring the garden supports and respects the natural environment.
Read our beginner’s guide to green roofs
Enjoyed this garden tour? Take a look at more award-winning gardens from the 2015 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
TELL US…
What do you think of this award-winning garden design? Do you have a favourite garden from the show? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Read our beginner’s guide to green roofs
Enjoyed this garden tour? Take a look at more award-winning gardens from the 2015 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
TELL US…
What do you think of this award-winning garden design? Do you have a favourite garden from the show? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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I love it
Great garden, the timber path draws you in so well.