• A piece of maritime history comes to Hampton Court Palace: the decking is built from timbers salvaged from Southend’s iconic pier
• The designer is also a Scout leader who has been working on this project with young offenders since November
• The Southend gardens at the show aim to give young offenders new skills and opportunities in life

Inspired by the coastline of Southend-on-Sea, the pier and the surrounding beach, the Southend Council ‘By The Sea’ garden offers a peaceful idyll situated by the coast. This relaxed and practical space features cool, calming blues and naturalistic planting.

A gravel path meanders through planting that reflects the sea’s waves and leads to a decking area, inspired by the local pier, which incorporates a section of railway track reminiscent of the original rails. The planting has been chosen to cope with a semi-exposed coastal location and is a mix of blue, purple, silver and white-flowered or foliage plants. Eucalyptus gunnii adds height to the garden and Buddleja davidii helps to balance the space and add fragrance.