A Show Garden Designed
for Maggie's Centre Southampton
Two show gardens were created by the students of Sparsholt College, in the final year of the Advanced Award in Garden Design. Our gardens 'Waves' and 'The Sanctuary' both highlight the wonderful work of the Maggie's Centre Southhampton. The one I was most involved with was 'Waves'. 'Waves' Is a plant-filled journey illustrating the vital role the Maggie’s Centre Southampton plays in supporting those affected by a cancer diagnosis. Through symbolism and use of colour, our garden also explores the link between Maggie Keswick Jencks's inception of Maggie’s centres and the spiritual concepts of Taoism, one of her areas of interest. A wave, 'Tao' moves through three garden spaces, representing fluctuating energy and emotion. Starting with the planting of dark restrained colour and form, the wave rests at a central water feature and a planting of green and white, a quiet regenerative escape. The path then widens again surrounded by bright harmonising planting that celebrates the beauty and energy of nature.
Charles Jencks (2021) "Taoism, the idea that everything is in a process of flowing movement, fits in with the new sciences of organisation out of chaos and complexity."
Anonymous Maggie’s Centre Southampton Visitor 2022
‘’ In the storm of cancer Maggie’s is my safe harbour’’.
Initial Concept Sketch
My initial concept design representing the groups ideas....
CAD Design
My 3D representation and an indicative planting plan created using Vectorworks
Creating the garden
Using salt to create curved shapes
Salt was used to create a curved shape for the paper 'Wave' template.
Using Loppers to cut the pegs to uniform size
After the two wave shapes had been cut from recycled plywood, holes were drilled and pegs put in place. The willow was then woven in.
Preparing for transport
The woven wave was carefully tied into place for transport.
Hazel and willow screen
The two screens were created using coppiced hazel and willow
The bed was filled with compost
Filling the bed with reused compost and setting out plants ready for planting
The day before judging
The garden almost ready for the judges.
A Gold and Silver Guilt
We were delighted to be presented our Silver Guilt (Waves) and Gold (The Sanctuary) awards by wildlife friendly gardening advocate, award winning garden designer and television presenter Arit Anderson.
Waves
The Sanctuary