RHS Chelsea 2012

'Lands’ End: A Rural Muse'

Winner of Gold Medal

The garden is designed for a couple who have been inspired by their local environment, especially the walks of the famous peasant poet John Clare, who lived in the village of Helpston from 1793 to 1864, which neighbours their home town of Stamford in Lincolnshire. The brief was to create a space taking inspiration from the six well known local walks. These walks take in the very distinct and diverse countryside that inspired so much of Clare's poetry and develop a space that would not only be somewhere that the couple could entertain and relax, but also provide a habitat that would encourage a diversity of wildlife for many years to come.