The Centrepoint garden has been acknowledged by a panel of expert Royal Horticultural Society judges, achieving a Bronze Lindley award for exhibits of special scientific or educational interest at the most prestigious gardening event in the world.
Youth homelessness charity Centrepoint showcased its striking garden in the ‘Continuous learning’ zone at Chelsea. It is inspired by homeless young people receiving support from Centrepoint who have completed Centrepoint’s horticultural course equipping them with a useful qualification and opening their doors to future employment opportunities. During the course the budding young gardeners spend a week at The National Trust’s Scotney Castle in Kent where they put their skills into practice working alongside the professional gardeners. The garden is a miniature version of the vegetable garden the young people helped to restore at Scotney Castle.
Made entirely of edible plants including herbs and vegetables grown by young people from Centrepoint during the course, the Centrepoint garden was recognised for successfully highlighting sustainability through its ‘grow what you eat’ theme, its efficiency at maximising growing space and its constant, efficient water management system.
The Centrepoint garden is in partnership with The National Trust, Capel Manor College and funded by the London Development Agency.