Cotswold Life’s gardening columnist designer Paul Hervey-Brookes’ garden for the Institute of Quarrying won not only gold but Best in Show and the Best Construction awards
It brings his medal tally to eight RHS golds and three RHS Best in Show awards.
Stroud-based Paul was thrilled with the result: “It’s been a challenging build with the weather up and down – really hot or horribly wet. I’m really happy for the whole team.”
It was also a personally difficult build, following the death of his husband, Yann, last summer.
“It was the last thing we worked on together,” he said.
The largest garden at the first Chatsworth show, Paul’s design covers a staggering 480sqm and is inspired by the life of a quarry from being worked to being reclaimed.
It sets stark concrete and stone against his trademark soft planting while a striking installation by artist Ann-Margreth Bohl, also from Stroud, forms a dramatic focal point at one end. Entitled ‘Passing Light’ and made from six huge panels, it was designed to have changing shadows as weather passed over it.
High winds and torrential rain forced an early end to press day at the event on the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire’s estate. The showground was cleared due to safety fears but has reopened today and runs until Sunday June 7. For full details, see the RHS website www.rhs.org.uk.
