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Cancer Research UK
The Cancer Research UK Garden
Designer:
Andy Sturgeon
Sponsor: Cancer Research UK
Contractor: Modular Pro; Pool contractor: London Swimming Pool Company
Click here to view a panorama of this garden.
Click here to view a video clip of the garden.
Click on the image to view a hi-res version
Get Andy sturgeon's tips on woodland plants
This is a modern garden for a healthy lifestyle. The garden aims to highlight the fact that half of all cancers could be prevented by changes to lifestyle. The primary focus will be to encourage people to stay in shape, maintain a healthy diet and protect themselves from the sun. It illustrates the charity’s major cancer prevention campaign - Reduce Your Risk.
The garden design is based around three key pillars of the initiative; Eat Healthily, Stay in Shape and Be SunSmart. These messages are at the core of Andy’s ambitious and breathtaking design.
The garden is centred on a turquoise blue, infinity-edged swimming pool complete with Jacuzzi and shaded pavilion, which is a first for the Chelsea Flower Show. The overall feel will exude an exotic quality although the planting will use species associated with the UK climate.
The pavilion is framed by tree trunks at the rear of the garden, which form the backdrop and will be under-planted in a modern woodland style, using large drifts of Polystichum, Lamium orvala and Libertia grandiflora. The front of the garden will use bold blocks of planting integrated with large square tables of neatly clipped yew from Germany and edible plants including large flowering blueberries from Devon, noteworthy for their antioxidant qualities and acknowledged as an excellent source of vitamin C. Herbs such as rosemary, oregano and chives will also add to the edible plant theme.
A simple ‘loop style’ coffee table has served as Andy’s inspiration for the loop bench and the pavilion. The bench is made from concrete and the pavilion will be a similar shape but with a funky slatted screen to cast shade and protect those using it from the sun’s damaging rays. The finish will be of polished plaster.
The perimeter of the garden will be a unique screen of hardwood sticks made by British craftsmen, pitched at a uniform height of 2m (6.5ft) and combined with soft planting of the native grass Deschampsia cespitosa and four different varieties of foxtail lilies in various shades of orange. Diamond-sawn Indian paving stones in pale cream will add a crisp contemporary quality to the striking pathway through the garden and the lawn will be grown in one large piece and rolled out like a carpet. False acacia Robinia pseudoacacia at the front of the garden will act as a dramatic focal point and is sure to attract the attention of show visitors.
If you like this garden, look out for the City College of Brighton & Hove garden at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show (4-9 July). Converting the Couch Potato aims to promote the physical benefits of gardening, including growing your own fruit and vegetables.