Career high for garden designer

In a collaboration between sponsor and contractor, Horsham-based Living Landscapes, designer Cherry Carmen and charity Perennial, ‘Immerse’ will be entered into the show’s popular Water Garden category which has been reintroduced this year after an eight year absence. Immerse reflects the work of Perennial, the charity that looks after gardeners and everyone who cares for our green spaces when times get tough. Having just finished a second round of chemotherapy for kidney cancer, Cherry understands from personal experience the value of this type of support. Cherry says: “I have always wanted to design a show garden for the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and so when Tecwyn got in touch, I jumped at the chance. We work closely with Living Landscapes on other projects and so we know the team well. “Together with CED Stone Ltd, who are donating the hard landscaping, and the support team at Perennial, it is an exhilarating experience to see my garden design featured at a show that I have enjoyed attending and working at.” Emerging from illness, Cherry’s design flows with positive energy, capturing a sense of being protected and nurtured, as well as revitalised and inspired. It incorporates an innovative recessed seating area below ground level, with cascading water walls on three sides forming an intimate space for reflection. The hard landscaping supplied by CED Stone Ltd gives this water garden its strong, modern lines, while the unstructured, textured planting adds a comforting softness. Planting on the upper level is grassy, with lots of movement. Plane trees, trained to form a parasol, are under-planted with woodland shade-loving wildflowers. Moving down the stairs, there is an abundance of lush, wide-leafed plants. Tecwyn Evans, Managing Director of Living Landscapes, says: “Perennial does great work for people in need in our industry and I’m proud to be working with them on this garden. “Collaborating with Cherry is going to be fantastic too, I’ve known her for a long time and will enjoy seeing her fulfil her ambition to create a garden at the world’s biggest annual flower show. It will also be exciting for us all to exhibit in the revived water gardens category.” Commenting about the project, Perennial Development Manager Laura Garnett said: “Perennial exists to help all horticulturists in times of need. We help people like Cherry who are facing life-changing challenges and illnesses every year with free and confidential advice, financial support and wider social help. “But we also have a role to play in supporting Cherry and her team to realise her dream to build this show garden. “It is testament to the UK horticulture industry’s ability to collaborate and willingness to help those in need that we are able to bring this garden to the show.” The creation of Immerse has only been made possible thanks to the support and generosity of many partners, suppliers and volunteers including CED Stone Ltd, CouCou Design, Griffin Nurseries, Landscape Plus, North Hill Nurseries, Oase, KC Fibreglass, Anglo Aquatics and Verdon Grey. For more about the charity visit www.perennial.org.uk n Horsham-based Living Landscapes is also the sponsor and constructor of the Shakespeare-themed ‘All the Worlds a Stage’ garden at the flower show. Collaborating with Lunaria Landscapes, they will create a multi-layered, experiential space, which pays homage to the Bard in the year of the 400th anniversary of his death.