Designing a greener future for towns & cities
Chris Beardshaw will be creating a display in collaboration with Groundwork UK, an environmental regeneration charity.
RHS Shows department
Monday, March 19, 2012
The RHS has partnered with national regeneration charity Groundwork to devise a series of show gardens, designed by landscape designer and broadcaster Chris Beardshaw.
Malvern's Urban Oasis show garden, sponsored by Marks & Spencer and Three Counties Agricultural Show, demonstrates how productive food growing can go far beyond the traditional back garden or allotment.
An urban oasis in your community
Groundwork and the RHS hope that this show garden will encourage all of us to get local communities gardening and creating an urban oasis in our own neighbourhoods; by cleaning up the land on our doorsteps; by introducing schoolchildren to the vital importance of nature, and showing people how to grow their own food.
In real life, an urban oasis can take many forms. What may just look like a flower bed and a couple of benches or a little playground among some houses could actually be a lifeline to people who live nearby, especially in more deprived neighbourhoods.
Chris Beardshaw said: “The green space around us - where we live and work - has a fundamental effect on our emotions and behaviour. It is well documented that in areas where these spaces are neglected and poorly designed we see strong evidence of social unrest and it is easy to see why when you stand in these spaces yourself.
“Whatever the green need there is a solution and contrary to popular belief it doesn’t have to mean high cost - The Urban Oasis Gardens showcase design solutions which can make such a difference in people's lives.”