It may seem strange to provide gardening tips for people who don’t have a garden, but with Generation Rent at an all-time high organisers at RHS Malvern Spring Festival today unveiled details of five displays designed to encourage a new tribe of green-fingered enthusiasts.
Championed by Jamie Butterworth, RHS Ambassador and passionate horticulturist, the Green Living Spaces are to highlight that you don’t need a huge space to have a beautiful garden.
“I am both proud and excited to be involved once again in the RHS Malvern Green Living Spaces category. It’s one of the most fun, visionary and important new categories at any RHS Show,” he commented.
“Now in its second year, we welcome five inspiring new designers to create a visionary garden in the smallest of spaces, showcasing the importance of plants and horticulture on our health and happiness. New for 2019, each designer will also have their own inside space in which they can bring the outdoors in and the inside out. I cannot wait to see what the designers produce this year.”
The Green Living Spaces gardens, all designed by women, aim to show a new audience how they can enjoy gardening and growing by maximising the use of small patios or balconies.
Each Green Living Space consists of a balcony or patio garden joined by an interior-designed indoor living space.
Herefordshire born Sara Edwards will be making her RHS Malvern debut alongside South West-based Jessica Makins and Gabriella Pill from Surrey. This year will also see two international entries – Russia-born Anastasia Yakovleva and Stacey Bright who will be travelling to the festival from South Africa.
Head of Shows Diana Walton said it was vital to show everyone how to get involved, especially given 37 per cent of the UK’s population falling into the Generation Rent category.
She said: “It’s important that we can inspire the next generation of horticulturists through proving that having no garden at all is not an excuse to not grow plants, and how even a small windowsill can be the perfect growing spot.
“These ladies are incredibly talented garden designers from all over the world. We’re thrilled to have two international designers come over to RHS Malvern this year, and we can’t wait to see all of their Green Living Spaces at the festival.”
Defiance, by Sara Edwards at No.30 Design Studio
The London balcony garden is inspired by a traveller returning from Brazil who is craving the lush green of the tropics and wishes to escape the harsh realities of inner-city life by indulging their plant obsession. This garden is inspired by the Modernist landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx and features a ray of exotic plants, from Yuccas to palm trees to bring out the Brazilian influence.
An Artist’s Studio at Home, Jessica Makins
Inspired by the home, studio and paintings of Georgia O'Keefe, the garden is designed to provide a space to imagine, make and exhibit. Imagined as a home art studio, either as a garden room or a converted room in a house, the design focuses on creating views to paint and draw. Ethics are important in this garden, which utilises natural materials including timber, clay and natural fibres such as wool and linen.
Mediterranean Terrace, Gabriella Pill
The garden is designed for a busy, young-professional couple, typically the type of people who might have a small space that they would like to make the most of in rented accommodation. The living space must be low maintenance, but most importantly an enjoyable place to relax and spend time outdoors. A young professional couple would be seeking relaxation closer to home, why not in their own little slice of Ibiza in their own back garden?
Memories of a Home, Anastasia Yakovleva
Inspiration for Anastasia’s garden comes from a young Russian couple’s home. The couple are young professionals, the man a successful chef and she’s a sought after graphic designer who miss their country and would like to bring a bit of Russia back with them, through Loft, Scandinavian and Rustic design traditions.
Ikhaya, Stacey Bright
For those living in the city but missing the agricultural life, the Ikhaya garden (meaning ‘home’ in Zulu) allows the visitor to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and go back to the basics of picking what we eat, having our feet on the ground, and connecting with nature. Reflecting this, the garden is inspired by South African living and incorporates dust, rust, and greenery into a contemporary living environment.
RHS Malvern Spring Festival, in association with Great Little Breaks, is seen by many as the official start of spring and attracts more than 100,000 people annually. Visitors flock to see its inspirational show gardens and beautiful Floral Marquee, get top tips from the experts and enjoy the best food and drink that Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire has to offer.
The Festival recently announced a star-studded line up of special guests, including DJ and gardening enthusiast, Jo Whiley, horticultural experts Monty Don, Joe Swift, and Carol Klein, celebrity chefs Raymond Blanc and John Torode, amongst others.
RHS Malvern Spring Festival takes place from May 9-12. Advance tickets are now on sale now, with prices starting at just £19 for RHS and Three Counties members, or £21 for the general public. Children under 16 go free.Group tickets are also available.
For further information visit www.rhsmalvern.co.uk or call 0844 811 0050.To look for the perfect UK getaway, visit www.greatlittlebreaks.com
