Addleshaw Goddard: Flourish in the City

The garden

The garden celebrates the hidden gemstones of London - its gardens and pocket-sized oases that quietly stitch the city together, offering sanctuary, freedom and community amid the urban rush. Inspired by London’s status as the first National Park City, the garden blends natural forms and materials to reflect the city’s heritage.

The garden invites visitors to reconnect with nature in the heart of the city and features a strong ratio of green and blue environmental elements, set amongst quintessential materials such as Portland stone and copper. Water features are a nod to London’s hidden rivers. The garden also references the emerging #humanise movement, led by London-based designer Thomas Heatherwick, encapsulating joy, generosity, and imaginative design.

Key plants

The planting scheme is a harmonious palette of violet, pink and lemon yellow, with resilient grasses and shrubs.

• Saxifraga × urbium (London Pride) – a symbol of resilience, known for thriving in bomb-damaged London during WWII
• Pinus (pine trees) – evergreen needles help reduce air pollution by trapping particulate matter
• Plantago varieties – commonly found growing in pavement cracks, showcasing urban adaptability
• Verbascum – thrives in poor soils and stony places, often seen on brownfield sites and walls.

Plants supplier: Creepers Nursery and Katie’s Garden Plant Centre

Sustainability notes

The garden uses innovative materials like oyster shell-based concrete and reclaimed stone, minimising carbon impact and promoting eco-friendly construction. The planting is both climate-sensitive and urban-resilient, blending naturalistic elements with architectural features. This balance not only enhances the urban environment but also provides visitors with practical, sustainable ideas for their own gardens.

The designers – Joe and Laura Carey

“This particular garden blends Joe’s love of London and the built environment, with Laura’s application of colour and texture in a garden. Joe has followed the work of designers such as Thomas Heatherwick for a number of decades and we feel incredibly blessed to be able to bring the garden to the show in 2026 as it has a strong personal relevance to us,” Joe and Laura Carey.

Carey Garden Design Studio, led by Joe and Laura Carey in North Norfolk, is a multi-award-winning practice known for its innovative, plant-focused designs. With Laura’s expert eye for planting detail and Joe’s intuitive spatial creativity, the duo has earned multiple RHS Gold Medals and national recognition for their fresh approach to garden design.

About the sponsor – Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard are delighted to be partnering with award-winning designers for the third year running. They are the Official Legal Partner of RHS Chelsea Flower Show and are committed to helping their clients, colleagues and communities to flourish. They are headquartered in the heart of the City of London, and so this garden - and the narrative it tells about both celebrating London’s heritage and providing a place of urban sanctuary and positivity - has particular meaning to them.

Garden legacy

The garden will be relocated to Baston House School, a specialist educational provider in Bromley for autistic children and young people. The garden will serve as a safe, enriching space that supports their educational experience and provides a calming, therapeutic environment.