Hampton Court Flower Show

Gold Winner for the Conceptual Garden

We raised awareness of Scleroderma and Raynaud's at Hampton Court Flower Show 2017 with a specially designed concept garden called the 'Elements of Life' designed by Bill Wilder. #RHSHampton #GardensWorld

We met up with Bill Wilder at Hampton Court to hear more about his concept garden and why he wanted to link with SRUK. Have a look at the photos on our Pinterest account.

About Bill's design

• The symbolic pomegranate tree Punica granatum, is underplanted with meadow-like perennials and flowers loved by pollinators, such as Astrantia major and Achillea millefolium 'Pomegranate'
• LED lights are incorporated into the installation base, making it glow in the dark
• The elements engraved into the base are all present in the soil, and the water bubbles represent the process of osmosis used by plants to draw up water

About the Garden

This conceptual garden takes the viewer underground to explore plant roots and scientific soil composition in order to encourage better understanding of the significance of well-maintained soil. On a stainless steel base, in which the names of all the elements are engraved, sits a large water tank. The water symbolises life and the movement of bubbles within it, which are visible to the viewer, represent the exchange of elements with the plants' roots. Above the water, the roots of the plants are visible, encased in a transparent cube. At 'ground level' a wildflower meadow and single fruit tree are thriving.

With thanks to SRUK (Scleroderma & Raynaud's UK), Eskilstuna Kommum AMA, Swerob Ab, Micke Sundström Ab, Janne Larsson, Scleroderma and Raynauds UK, Eskilstuna AMA, Capel Manor College

The set-up

We met up with Bill on day 3 of the build to see how everything was going. The garden's beginning to take shape with an iron structure having been erected, which will support the cube of water that the garden will sit on top of.