Rae Wilkinson's garden design blog

Space to Grow   Chelsea Flower Show 2018 I was delighted to be asked to create a visitor zone garden for the RHS at this year's Chelsea Flower show. The garden showcased the new show garden category 'Space to Grow' and provides information and ideas for visitors to take home - no matter how small your outdoor space may be. Plant list and supplier / contributor information is all listed below. The garden showed some simple planting combinations for sunny and shady conditions, both in the ground and in containers. I designed some bench seats for the space which are natural and simple and separate into 3 seats or 2 seats and a table for versatility. Contemporary terracotta bird feeders are  hung in the trees to bring wildlife into the space and tone with the corten steel. Bench by Rae Wilkinson Design and Living Landscapes, corten steel planters by Adezz from The Pot Company Bench by Rae Wilkinson Design and Living Landscapes, corten steel planters by A

Sensory gardens Gardens as therapeutic space for everyone Gardens are  by their nature sensory spaces. The combination of the textures, colours, smells and sounds of nature usually provide this naturally. We often talk about gardens being healing spaces, and by this we don't mean they provide a cure, simply that they create a notable lift in well-being whilst being used. A key element of a garden intended to create this lift in well-being is to include plants and materials which stimulate the senses. While designing some gardens recently for the care environment and dementia care, my main considerations are: - Tailoring outdoor space to provide welcoming, safe, engaging green space   - Creating the opportunity to get a breath of fresh air in natural, pleasing and useable surroundings   - Providing distraction and intrigue through sensory planting, features and surfaces - Creating a journey  through an outside space with places to rest and pause  along th