Stonehenge
Meningitis Now – Futures Garden
Site Number: SEW713
Medal: Silver-Gilt and Peoples Choice in Artisan Garden category
Meningitis Now exists to save lives and rebuild futures. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the charity, the garden has been inspired by the spirit and energy of families whose lives have been changed by Meningitis. The first recorded case of the disease was in Stroud, Gloucester, which inspired the setting of a Cotswold country garden. A Greek themed folly forms the centrepiece and represents the charity, with a seat bearing the inscription of the charity’s motto.
A carved stone tableau set in the back wall depicts the Greek god of medicine, Asclepius and his five daughters. Divided by the folly are two walls, one representing the disease and the second the recovery.
Five dramatic sculptures travel across the garden, hitting the first wall and climbing over the next showing lives changed, lost and a life different to the one they expected. The last and oldest figure depicts Chippenham para-cyclist Lauren Booth who hopes to represent Britain at the Rio Paralympics 2016.
Planting/Colour Scheme
A 3.5 metre Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’ provide height with pastel shades of under planting ranging from white to dark purple. Using Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ and orange Welsh poppies, flecks of orange increase in the planting from right to left showing the increasing influence of Meningitis Now in the lives of the children running through the garden.
Much of the planting in the garden is herbaceous including lavender and Nepeta.
Wiltshire exhibitors at the 2016 RHS Chelsea Flower Show:
Floral Marquee
Federation of British Bonsai Societies, Swindon
Site Number: GPA107
Medal: Gold
Floyds Climbers & Clematis, Calne
Site Number: GPG213
Medal: Silver-Gilt
The Botanic Nursery, Melksham
Site Number: GPD165
Medal: Gold
View photos of Chelsea Flower Show 2016
Flower arranging
Winterslow Flower Club
Flower Arranging 1st Session
Site Number: FA123
Medal: Gold
Wroughton Floral Art
Flower Arranging 2nd Session
Site Number: FA29
Tradestands
Agralan, Swindon
Site Number: EA545
Eco Pond Ltd, Trowbridge
Site Number: EA530
Henchman Ltd, Trowbridge
Site Number: WA318
Horatio’s Garden
Site Number: EA514
Sarah Raven’s Kitchen & Garden Ltd, Marlborough
Site Number: SW417
Legacy
Salisbury charity Horatio’s Garden will benefit from many of the displays at the show. Hartley Botanic are donating their new Opus glasshouse. Brewin Dolphin are giving the focus piece sculpture from Rosy Hardy’s garden called Coccosphere which will take centre stage in the garden in Scotland. Mountain pines will be donated from Marlborough vineyard Cloudy Bay designed by Sam Ovens.
Dr Olivia Chapple, Chair if the Trustees and Horatio’s mother said: “We are delighted that many people withing the gardening world are coming forward to support the charity in different ways and so pleased that elements of several beautiful gardens from the Chelsea Flower show will take up permanent residence in Hortaio’s Gardens.”
