This Garden Isn’t Finished Without You sponsored by The Methodist Church

RHS Environmental Innovation Award winner

This garden creates a communal space where everyone is welcome to flourish. The floorplan of the garden reflects a typical Methodist Church with bright, colourful and diverse planting which is inspired by the diversity of people. Cork walls wrap around the boundary of the garden to create a soft and textural sanctuary, with large fig trees providing shelter.

The design is rich with symbolism. Recycled colourful stone paving is a subtle nod to the colours of the rainbow flag / Pride flag , celebrating people who identify as LGBTQIA+. Plants such as achillea, salvia, and erigeron are not native to the UK, but are naturalised here, show how, just like human communities, the garden is richer for the blend of plants from other cultures and nations. Supporting this inclusivity, the garden is designed to be accessible for those with physical disabilities and incorporates a calm area for neurodivergent visitors.
 
Large woven willow sculptures in three distinct forms surround an open table where people can come together. The garden celebrates diversity and inclusivity, with a broad mix of plants chosen to represent the resilience of people from all around the world coming together to form a community.

At a glance:

Who is this garden for?
A public garden.
Where is the garden set?  
North West England
Who or what is the design inspiration?
The Bible verse Genesis 1:27 underpins one of the core principles of the Methodist Church and its commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. “So God created humankind in God’s image, in the image of God he created them.”

Key sustainability points

• Materials such as a cork-clad wall, recycled colourful stone paving and willow sculptures are all net-zero materials.
• The garden features climate-resilient planting.

Relocation and repurpose

The garden will be relocated to the grounds of a Methodist Church near RHS Tatton Park.