Exhibitors
Chic gardens
The Children's Society
Lust for Life
Designer: Angus Thompson
Sponsor: Ecclesiastical Insurance
Contractor: Mark Gregory, Landform
Click on the images to view a hi-res version
The Children’s Society Garden takes inspiration from the song ‘Lust for Life’ by Iggy Pop and is an optimistic and invigorating space.
Vibrantly coloured planting and 'thought bubbles', inspired by Roald Dahl’s BFG represent the dreams of children and their manifestation into reality. An arc of water, symbolizing the power and triumph of the human spirit, traverses the garden in rhythmic bursts to the beat of Lust For Life.
The 3-D planted ‘bubbles’ rise and burst free from the square planting bed, which includes both salvias and alliums. Clusters of Allium echo the main ‘dream bubble’ shape and imply other dreams not pursued to fruition. An odd prickly Eryngium provides contrast and subversively suggests darker thoughts. A fruiting Mespilus tree signifies dreams being fully realised.
Lust for Life by the Children’s Society includes eryngiums to encourage birds, and salvias to encourage bees.
The garden is for urban office workers to rest in and rejuvenate during their breaks. The combination of clean-cut spaces, pure use of materials, and the invigorating character of the water and colour scheme aim to create gentle cross-sensory stimulation for weary office staff.
Designer Angus Thompson, a newcomer to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, designed this urban garden to reflect children's zest and energy for life and the innate potential of childhood. Angus studied at the Inchbald School of Design and won the Principal’s Award in 2004.