'Mind Trap' RHS Chelsea 2017 wins GOLD

MIND TRAP Fresh Garden for RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017, Site FR82 This garden is a physical manifestation of my personal experience of suffering from and living with depression. It's purpose is to help those that suffer in similar ways to be assured that they are not alone in their own personal struggles. It also endeavours to explain to others that have no personal experience of suffering what it may feel like, by way of a physical tangible living garden with the use of symbolism and creating an atmosphere. https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/Gardens/2017/mind-trap A huge thank you to everyone involved. Without you, the garden would have remained an idea on paper.

Small Suburban Garden

This small garden in a development in Ballinderry presented a few challenges.  The slope was a potential major hurdle as it meant there was a lack of level usable space as well as too many steps to get into the garden

The client wanted a lawn, space to entertain, as well as visual interest in the garden.Other requirements included disguising the dominant oil tank, providing more storage and trying to stop the garden feeling as if it was falling away from the house so much.   

My design included all that they asked for with a couple of extra touches.  The usable space issue was sorted out by the construction of the decked area with the built in seating and purpose built table.  Steps flowed down to a lower patio area, and tear drop shaped lawn formed the lower area. 




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This is the back garden of the house before the redesign. Note the slope and the lack of useable space.


This is how the garden looked one year on. It show how even a small sloped garden can be turned into an attractive usable garden.


The benches in the dining area are formed from the same timeber as the decked area on top of stone filled gabions. Lighting has been built into the benches to create further interest.


A view of the BBQ area with in-situ benches. This space feels much more private than the rest of the garden. tucked into the corner.


Lawns can be all shapes and sizes. This one has been edged with brick to create a mowing strip to reduce maintenance.


The dining area of the garden leads down to the BBQ patio towards the bottom of the garden. Space is saved on this area as the benches are built in.


The steps come down from the back door and finish flush with the decked area. The gabion benches help to disguise this path from the rest of the garden.


From this angle, the height differences can be clearly seen. The garden now feels much bigger by the use of the different levels. Changes in level always creat much more interest.

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