The Perennial Sanctuary Garden
The Perennial Sanctuary Garden appeared at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in July 2017 and was awarded an RHS Silver-Gilt medal. This show garden was designed to raise awareness of Perennial, Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society, the UK’s only charity dedicated to helping people working in horticulture when they are faced with challenges such as illness, injury, poverty, and old age. The design follows a spiral form, with a shifting colour palette of plants, to symbolise the journey a Perennial client might take as they overcome difficulty.
A rich mix of planting began with vibrant red hues on the outer edge, the colour suggestive of an inner chaos that can occur when facing crisis and uncertainty. Designed as a walk-through show garden, a sweeping gravel path led visitors through dense planting, the colours transitioning from stimulating oranges and yellows to restful purples and blues, culminating in a calming green. As visitors made their way towards the centre of the garden the planting also became increasingly simplified, with fewer species. The sweeping pathway led to a central sanctuary, encircled by a single species of towering bamboo and featuring bespoke Yorkstone benches and a large Corten steel bowl full of still water. This central space was designed to screen the outside world, providing a tranquil hideaway and a quiet space for peaceful contemplation.
Photographs by Britt Willoughby Dyer
