Mindful Chef’s Gathering
Inspired by the complex habitats of a traditional orchard, this design reimagines them for a smaller garden, blending homegrown harvests with a focus on nature recovery
Show Gardens
The garden
A traditional orchard is reimagined for a smaller garden in this solution-focused design, bringing together the enjoyment of growing and harvesting home produce with a strong commitment to nature recovery. Since the 1950s, an estimated 90% of traditional orchards in England and Wales have been lost through neglect, development and conversion to intensive farming methods. The resulting loss of biodiversity, cultural heritage and carbon-rich habitats has underscored the urgency of this distinctive garden.
The space is highly sustainable and naturalistic, demonstrating how gardens can be created with minimal intervention and unprocessed materials. Beneath fruiting and nut trees, a wildlife-friendly understorey of edible and ornamental planting brings together pollinator favourites, winter seedheads and a vibrant palette of lilac, purple and orange tones. Wildlife boxes, a bespoke green roof shed, a natural pond and a native hedgerow add to the complexity of the orchard habitat.
A central deck provides a gathering area where friends and neighbours can meet, enjoy homegrown produce and feel closer to nature. Underpinning this is the idea that domestic gardens shouldn’t be seen as isolated private spaces, but as a patchwork of interconnected habitats that, collectively, can help restore local food production, nature and community life.
Key plants:
-
Vicia faba ‘Karmazyn’ (broad bean)
Plants supplied by: DG Ross Nursery, Clare Hicken, Viridis Plants, Majestic Trees, Elveden Instant Hedge
Sustainability notes
Innovative 3D-printed nest boxes provide homes for birds, alongside other nesting features made using a blend of corn starch and wood shavings completely free from petrochemicals. The deck is formed from untreated Douglas Fir planks, sawn to preserve the natural form of the tree trunk, with gaps for invertebrates and self-seeded plants. A wildlife pond has been designed to replicate nature both visually and functionally as part of the traditional orchard concept. It will have no manufactured components visible and requires very little maintenance.
About the designer – Sophie Godber
Sophie is a chartered landscape architect and garden designer who founded Spacecraft Garden Design Ltd in 2017. Based in the Peak District, she creates sustainable, site-responsive gardens ranging from compact urban spaces to large-scale projects. Her work focuses on welcoming nature without compromising on quality or style, building on experience across public and private landscape schemes in the UK and internationally.
About the sponsor – Mindful Chef
As a brand built around healthy, nature-inspired eating and sustainable food sourcing, Mindful Chef shares the garden’s ethos of growing, harvesting and nature recovery. Mindful Chef’s Gathering garden’s focus on community, edible planting and reconnecting people with food production closely aligns with Mindful Chef’s mission.
The garden legacy
The garden will be relocated to Litton Primary School, Litton, Derbyshire and repurposed for their Litton Explorers Forest School Nursery.
All Show Gardens
Get involved
The RHS is the UK’s gardening charity, helping people and plants to grow - nurturing a healthier, happier world, one person and one plant at a time.