The Borrowed Border

The garden

The space is designed for visitors to slow down, explore and enjoy moments of quiet connection. A companion bench sits within layered planting that creates a sense of shelter and intimacy. As you move through the border, the details reveal themselves gently, inviting curiosity and rewarding anyone who takes the time to look closely. The border shows how even a small space can become meaningful, imaginative and restorative.

The design is inspired by The Borrowers – tiny characters who create secret worlds out of everyday objects – and by the countryside of Rossendale, where small corners of woodland can feel magical. Darcy wanted to create a border that evokes discovery, wonder and closeness. The purpose is to show that gardens can bring people together, spark imagination and create places of calm, even when space is limited. The design invites visitors to pause, share the moment with someone else and reconnect with the small wonders around them.

The planting

The planting draws on rich, storybook colours inspired by the cover of The Borrowers: deep greens, russet reds and muted golds. The layers are designed to feel intimate and full of hidden details, echoing small secret worlds.

Key plants include:

• Various mosses – soft, moisture‑holding groundcover that shelters tiny creatures
• Allium species – tall, whimsical shapes that create playful height and movement
• Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’ – dark foliage adding contrast and mystery
• Geranium renardii – gentle leaves forming sheltered pockets for miniature life
• Blechnum spicant (hard fern) – a woodland plant that adds structure and supports biodiversity

Unsung heroes such as Epimedium ‘Niveum’, Ophiopogon ‘Kokuryu’, Tiarella ‘Sugar and Spice’ and Myosotis ‘Bluesylva’ add soft texture, seasonal charm and strong ecological value. Around 300–400 plants make up the border, creating a tapestry of tiny habitats and inviting close exploration.

Sustainability

Sustainability is built into the design through the use of reclaimed stone, woven willow and hazel, and repurposed materials that fit naturally into the story. Layered planting helps create microhabitats while reducing resource use. Moss is used as a soft groundcover that holds moisture, supports tiny creatures and helps the soil stay healthy. After RHS Malvern, the garden will move to Stubby Lee Community Greenhouses, where it will continue to support wellbeing and community activities. The design encourages visitors to reuse materials, create planting layers and add small water sources, simple steps that support nature at any scale.

The designer – Darcy Owen-Towe

Darcy Owen‑Towe grew up in the countryside, where curiosity, insects and soil were a constant part of life. After working in a corporate job, Darcy returned to gardening as a way to reconnect with creativity and nature. Self taught and deeply story driven, Darcy designs gardens that feel immersive, playful and connected to a sense of wonder. Alongside garden design, Darcy works in an organic fruit and veg shop and spends free time identifying plants, reading and learning more about the natural world. The Borrowed Border reflects Darcy’s belief that gardens can be grounding, imaginative and emotionally meaningful.

For Darcy, RHS Malvern is a chance to share a unique, story led approach with a wider audience and show what a self‑taught designer can achieve. The show provides an opportunity to test ideas on a larger scale, explore planting combinations and meet other designers and garden lovers. The project also holds personal meaning, a reminder to seize opportunities and follow passions. Most importantly, it offers a chance to encourage others to see gardens as places of joy, imagination and connection, no matter how small the space.

About the Sponsor – Crowdfunder campaign

The Borrowed Border is supported through a community crowdfunding campaign hosted on Crowd Funder rather than a single headline sponsor. This approach reflects the spirit of the project, where many small contributions come together, much like The Borrowers themselves, to quietly create something meaningful.

Stubbylee is run by the Bacup Consortium Trust, a community based health and wellbeing charity supporting people in Rossendale, where isolation is a real issue and community led wellbeing work matters deeply. Their work centres on social inclusion and improving mental and physical wellbeing through nature led, community driven support. At Stubbylee, gardens are more than something to look at. They are places for therapeutic green social prescribing, creative workshops, horticulture groups, volunteering and learning. The charity’s small core team and dedicated volunteers create welcoming spaces that help people feel connected, supported and valued.

Stubbylee was recognised in 2024 with both the King’s Award for Voluntary Services and an RHS Discretionary Award for Gardening for Wellbeing, honours that reflect the impact they have within their community