THE DAILY TELEGRAPH ANNOUNCES ITS GARDEN DESIGNER FOR THE 2008 RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

The Daily Telegraph’s garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show will this year be designed by the renowned landscape designer Arabella Lennox-Boyd.

The garden draws inspiration from the purity of design found in Japanese gardens combined with the romanticism of English planting schemes. It will provide a refreshing change to the nature of planting and garden design seen at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in recent years.

The design has an emphasis on water, which reflects light and provides meditative reflection for the mind. The pool of water will be encased in a double band of Purbeck stone and carefully positioned rocks rise up and break the water’s surface. A ribbon of Kirby blue grey Burlington slate will cross the reflective surface, meandering through the waterlilies before disappearing into a thicket of bamboos. Lush planting softens the water’s edge and provides a foil to the hard landscaping. The water lilies form ribbon-like waves across the surface of the pool in the same way sand and gravel is raked to emulate waves in Japanese Zen gardens.

A single structure of mirror and bands of stone at the far end of the garden provides a backdrop, reflecting the water and visually taking the space beyond the confines of the garden. The bamboo provides height and reflects the vertical nature of the bands of stone, whilst Gunnera and shrubs add drama and form part of a larger planting scheme.

The plants have been chosen for their strong visual qualities. Simplicity and precision are key to the planting design. Large leaves and grey foliage, falling roses and rounded shrubs all create a rhythm reflected in the stillness of the pool.

Kylie O’Brien, Gardening Editor, The Daily Telegraph said: “The understatement and simplicity of this year’s design add dignity and grace to the garden, making a clean and unique statement. It is a wonderful reaction to the busy planting of previous RHS Chelsea Flower Shows.

“We are extremely proud and very excited to have a such a great talent representing The Daily Telegraph at Chelsea this year”.

Arabella Lennox-Boyd said: “I have always been struck by the sense of tranquillity created in Japanese gardens and I was yearning to create a similar feeling of peace and simplicity with this garden”.

The Daily Telegraph Garden will once again occupy a prime site on the Main Avenue at the 2008 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.