The Chestnut Group garden for The Gurkha Welfare Trust

The garden

The garden is comprised of three areas. The planting in the woodland is made up of modern cultivars derived from genera found in the Himalayan region. For the rain garden, water captured from the pergola’s roof travels down a rain chain, through a subterranean pipe into the concave rain garden. This planting is water-loving and tolerant of moist soils. The gravel garden area is slightly convex, with drought tolerant plants protected by a gravel mulch.

Sustainable materials are used throughout, including local gravel and reclaimed blocks and bricks. The team are excited to be showcasing ‘Alive Labs’ Terranite panels – a carbon negative bio-receptive material which fuses vegetation (mosses and bryophytes) directly on to architectural surfaces. The recycled steel pergola is inspired by the iconic Nepalese metal water bottles. 

The garden will help to promote the vital work of The Gurkha Welfare Trust, providing financial, medical and development aid to Gurkha veterans, their families and communities in Nepal.

The planting

The enormous range of Himalayan plants and the modern cultivars derived from the indigenous plants, are the inspiration for the garden. There are plants for virtually every type of garden, soil, aspect and climate. The colour scheme in the flowering perennials is predominantly purple and blue, white and pink.

Key plants:

• Cercidiphyllum japonicum: for its large, heart shaped leaves

• Euphorbia schillingii: Chosen over other varieties as this plant was found in the Himalayas (by Tony Schilling in 1966)

• Miscanthus nepalensis: gives height and structure to the dry garden

• Rhododendron rubiginosum: using just one variety of rhododendron, for Himalayan authenticity. This variety has been chosen as it is one of the few rhododendrons which grows happily in neutral soil

• Selinum wallichianum: one of a few umbellifers in the garden, used to create a light, airy look

Plants supplied by: Deepdale Trees, Bernhard’s Nurseries, larger shrubs on loan from Slooten’s of Spalding, Millais Nurseries

Also sponsored by: Wilsons Solicitors LLP, London Stone, Oak Frames Norfolk, Oxley’s, Urban Grow

Sustainability notes

The garden promotes climate resilient plant combinations, the use of sustainable and recycled materials, the new Terranite material for moss walls, and water capture.

About the designer – Jane Scott Moncrieff

Jane worked as an independent PR for 25 years before retraining in Garden Design at Capel Manor College in Regent’s Park, from 2016 to 2018. In 2018, she designed a show garden for the Gurkha Welfare Trust at the Sandringham Flower Show, showcasing Himalayan plants and won a Gold medal and Best in Show. The following year, she created a Himalayan-inspired border for the same charity at BBC Gardeners’ World Live and was awarded a Gold Medal. In 2021, she designed a Get Started Garden at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. 

The garden legacy

After the show, all trees shrubs and perennials will be re-used in local projects. Some will be planted to make community engagement areas in The Chestnut Group’s gardens, while others will be used to make a learning space for local schoolchildren at the designer’s garden.