Designer Tom Hoblyn's quest for gold

Exclusive interview with Thomas Hoblyn designer of The Arthritis Research UK Garden.

Tom hasn’t struck gold at Chelsea since 2008 (although he’s come very close) and he’s very keen to correct that situation. Here he tells us how he’s going to do it.

Tom, how did you arrive at this design?

Arthritis Research UK gave me a one word brief, the best brief you could hope to get – ‘rebirth’. The charity has recently rebranded with a view to more actively promoting awareness of the negative impact of arthritis - a ‘rebirth’ for the organisation if you like.

Of course, another manifestation of rebirth – renaissance - sprang to mind immediately. I’ve always wanted to make a garden that explores the techniques and style of the Italian Renaissance, so it worked out brilliantly.

Are there symbolic references to their work in the design?

Well, only by coincidence. Arthritis Research UK didn’t want to weigh me down with this sort of thing as they realise how difficult it is to do successfully. But the medical research department got very excited when they discovered there were raised beds, which are particularly suited to arthritis sufferers and the planting includes borage, which apparently produces oil used medicinally for treating arthritis. It was really unintentional, but felicitous nonetheless.

This garden, Arthritis Research UK’s first Show Garden at Chelsea is part of a major drive to raise their profile. Coincidentally, gardening is a wonderful way for people who suffer from arthritis to keep active. It provides both physical and mental benefits by not only keeping joints supple, but also providing a sense of independence and restoring lost confidence. It’s a wonderful pastime.

Tell me a bit more about what’s going on in the garden.

I’ve drawn on the Renaissance techniques such as use of proportion and symmetry that can still be seen in 16th century Italian gardens, but I’ve pared back all the ornate decoration so it’s more contemporary. I’m demonstrating the Renaissance ambition to control nature by including formal elements in the garden, such as the heavily clipped cypresses and the complexity of the water features.

These contrast with more natural features like the crooked cork oak and the rough stone towards the perimeters of the garden, which shun man’s interference. The planting features a knot which was a strong example of 16th century human domination over nature, but ours is a deconstructed version that says ‘I’m going my own way’.

What would you like visitors to take away from your garden?

I’d like visitors to see an alternative approach to garden design, understanding that nature has the final word, as opposed to the Renaissance chaps who controlled everything so much to demonstrate man’s dominance over nature. Nature will always provide an extra layer of beauty on top of whatever man designs.