LCGD Graduates shine at 2025 RHS Shows
Graduates of the London College of Garden Design are taking part in this year’s RHS Shows with a range of creative gardens across the UK.
RHS Malvern Spring Festival: 8–11 May
– John Howlett – The Rain Garden
John graduated with Distinction in July 2024. The Rain Garden offers a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life, drawing inspiration from the tranquillity and beauty of traditional Japanese gardens. It demonstrates that with thoughtful design and planting, it’s possible to create a space that not only inspires but also addresses practical concerns, such as mitigating the impact of flooding caused by climate change.
Excitingly, John’s garden has just won a coveted Gold Medal 2025.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show: 20–24 May
– Tom Massey – The Avanade Intelligent Garden (with Je Ahn)
Tom Massey graduated from the London College of Garden Design in July 2015 with distinction and the ’External Judge’s Prize’. This year, with Je Ahn, they have designed The Avanade Intelligent Garden – an urban forest garden designed to support urban trees – essential allies in combating climate change and creating more hospitable living conditions in our cities.
– Joe and Laura Carey (Carey Design Studio) – The Addleshaw Goddard: Freedom To Flourish Garden
This garden advocates against the rising tide of ‘being too busy’. Inspired by a Norfolk colloquialism (slow you down), the design explores the mental health benefits of living an unhurried lifestyle, spending time in nature, gardens and gardening.
– Tom Bannister – The British Red Cross: here for humanity garden (with John Wharland)
The garden is inspired by Henri Dunant – the Swiss visionary founder of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement – and the countless volunteers who have dedicated their lives to impartial and compassionate service supporting people in crisis in the UK and overseas.
– Caroline and Peter Clayton (Viriditas Studio) – ME+EM City Garden
Brother and sister duo who run Viriditas Studio have designed the ME+EM City Garden where generous planters clad in moss green and soft pink natural clay tiles overflow with planting designed to catch the soft glow of the late afternoon sun, offering a soothing retreat for the senses. The garden is a haven where design meets purpose, reflecting beauty, functionality, and enduring quality, creating a space to detox from technology and recharge the soul.
– Jen Donnelly – Room to Breathe Hospital Garden (with Catherine Gibson for TSA)
Designed specifically as a restorative retreat for parents and caregivers of patients in hospital, the garden offers solace in nature, helping them recharge and face the challenges of caregiving with renewed energy.
RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival: 1–6 July
– Nico Navarro – The Woodland Edge
Nico has designed The Woodland Edge garden that is inspired by one of the richest and most diverse environments in nature – the edges of woodlands. The design is mostly made from wood-based materials and aims to inspire creativity, encourage a connection with the trees, and curiosity for the outdoors. The handcrafted features will be made using more than twenty different species of trees, shrubs and some dry flowers, all carefully collected from woodlands and gardens.
– LCGD graduates will also be represented in seven For the Love of Lamiaceae borders at the show, previously featured on our news page.
Belvoir Flower Show: 12–13 July
– Elodie Pradon – Intemporel (Timelessness)
A garden to attract dragonflies and pollinating insects. Intemporel’s offer is a ’voyage’ to China, inspired by the “Chinoiserie” of the Belvoir wallpaper. Intemporel is a transposition of the Belvoir Castle wallpaper by Elodie & her team, to a countryside border; a place where visitors of any age can meet (accessible by wheelchair) and drink a cup of Chinese tea.
More LCGD graduate gardens will be announced soon.
Image – John Howlett, The Rain Garden