The Welwyn Garden City Centenary Foundation (WGCCF) has chosen Heather Appleton of Appleton & Co Design as the winner in a competition to design a Centenary Garden that will debut at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2020.
Appleton & Co was chosen from a shortlist of four design teams including Mazullo + Russell Landscape Design, Richard Riddell Garden & Landscape Design and Williams & Towner Studio.
David Green, Chair of the Judging Panel, commented: “All the entries in the final judging phase were of a very high standard. Ultimately, we settled on a scheme that will catch the eye at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2020 and then successfully make the transfer to its new home in WGC. Warmest congratulations to Appleton & Co Design for an imaginative plan that will take root in its final location.”
Heather Appleton, who has won multiple gold medals at RHS shows and whose gardens have twice been named ‘best in show’ said: “Opportunities to design and deliver a Main Avenue show garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show are very rare and the Welwyn Garden City Centenary Foundation should be applauded from the rooftops for their time and energy in organising the centenary competition, it was a breath of fresh air.”
The competition launched in January 2017, organised in conjunction with the Society of Garden Designers (SGD) and was open to both members and non-members of the Society.
Sarah Morgan, Chair of the SGD said: “This was a fantastic initiative between the SGD and WGCCF, providing an opportunity to celebrate the inextricably linked disciplines of landscape design and forward-thinking town development. I look forward to seeing the garden built at RHS Chelsea in 2020. Congratulations to Appleton & Co Design and to all the SGD members who participated in the competition.”
The Centenary Garden is one of many planned events to celebrate 100 years of Welwyn Garden City and its innovative idea of healthy living.