Renaissance Garden


The Arthritis Research UK Garden, a garden inspired by the great Renaissance gardens of Italy, has been awarded a Silver Gilt Medal at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Designed for the charity by landscape and garden designer Thomas Hoblyn, the garden is one of 16 show gardens at the 2012 show and Hoblyn’s most ambitious design to date.
Hoblyn said: “I’m very happy to have won a Silver Gilt medal for Arthritis Research UK. Creating a garden for the Chelsea Flower Show is an amazing experience involving many months of hard work, sleepless nights and last minute dilemmas. The Arthritis Research UK Garden was especially challenging and seeeing it all come together is hugely exciting. Arthritis Research UK gave me a fantastic brief and I’m enormously proud of the result. ”
It is the first time that Arthritis Research UK has sponsored a major show garden at the show. The project is part of their 75th anniversary celebrations of the charity as Chief Executive at Arthritis Research UK, Dr. Liam O’Toole explains: “Being part of the Chelsea Flower Show for the first time has been a wonderful experience and working with Tom an absolute joy. The purpose of the garden is to introduce the charity to people who might not have heard of us and to inspire people who suffer from arthritis to stay active with a hobby like gardening.
Brilliantly reflecting the ‘rebirth’ of the charity, Tom’s Renaissance-inspired design was impeccably constructed and superbly finished. I was never in any doubt that Tom would pull it off for us and I am thrilled to accept the Silver Gilt Medal on behalf of everyone who worked so hard to deliver such a fantastic garden.”
Using water as a central theme, the Arthritis Research UK Garden incorporates three spectacular water features – a fountain seat framed by 30 laminar jets creating perfect arcs of water, a water cascade and a still mirror pool with infinity edge – set amongst formal Mediterranean planting. Incorporating plants from Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany and the UK, it comprises 2,250 plants, five 8-metre tall Cypress trees and a beautifully weathered cork oak tree forming an arching entrance to the garden. The water features are driven by hydrostatic power, replicating the authentic techniques used to great effect in the Renaissance period.

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