Relaxing spaces on set budgets

Visitors to the 2014 RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show were able to obtain creative inspiration from this year’s ‘Your Garden, Your Budget’ gardens in conjunction with the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL).

This category, previously named ‘Low Cost, High Impact’, illustrated a diverse range of gardens that could be achieved with smaller budgets. Landscape designers created gardens costing £7k, £10k, £13k and £15k. A total of four gardens, one from each price bracket, were exhibited. Visitors had the chance to see gardens designed specifically for relaxing and entertaining guests in urban gardens.

With a budget of £7k, Chew Valley Trees designed ‘Green is the Colour’; a garden inspired by the magical woodlands and forests of eastern Canada. The design focused on the common requirements of small urban gardens: screening, privacy and low-maintenance. The essence of a wider landscape was captured to create a secluded place of escape, reflection and reverie. The planting scheme combined shades of green foliage while a variety of closely planted evergreen trees created a textural backdrop to the garden.

The ‘Bacchus Garden’ was designed to a budget of £10K. Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, provided a classical connection with Hampton Court Palace, inspired by Renaissance artist Titian’s painting, Bacchus and Ariadne (1523) and Hampton Court’s Great Vine planted in 1769. Blousy blooms filled the curvaceous wineglass-inspired space providing a sense of abundance, while overflowing tiered pools represented a continuous flow of wine. The garden provided a secluded area for relaxing and entertaining guests while enjoying being outdoors and connecting with nature.


Stuart Charles Towner designed ‘Halo’ to a budget of 13k. This Mediterranean garden was based on the imagery of a classic Greek island. A key feature of the garden was a steel blue ‘halo’ which acted as a modern interpretation of a traditional Greek Orthodox Church dome.

Alexandra Froggatt’s ‘Garden of Solitude’ was designed as a place for relaxation and contemplation. On a budget of £15k, this space included a sheltered seating area, reflective pool and waterfall, made private by the use of sculpture, raised borders and trees. Soft, ambient lighting streamed through recycled glass panels on the wall painted in white and pastel colours. With upcycled materials such as concrete and wood and the incorporation of nectar-rich planting, this garden not only provided a space in which to relax but was also environmentally friendly.