RHS Iconic Horticultural Hero Garden

Designed by this year’s Iconic Horticultural Hero, Carol Klein, the garden is divided into six main habitats: wetland, woodland, hedgerow, meadow, exposed mountain and seaside, plus a small vegetable patch.

On entering is a sunken boggy wetland, followed by a slightly raised woodland area with beech trees and a native hedgerow boundary. Opposite is a small vegetable garden, with an example of ‘three sisters’ planting, using sweetcorn ‘Swift’, climbing bean ‘Blauhilde’ and a ‘Uchiki Kuri’ squash. Nearby, filling the air with scent, are three pots filled with Lathyrus odoratus ‘Cupani’.

From the ‘woodland’ to the exit there is a ‘meadow’ – a swathe of predominantly blue- and purple-themed herbaceous perennials such as Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’, Eryngium x zabelii, Nepeta and Scabiosa, punctuated with Achillea ‘Salmon Beauty’ and Echinacea pallida. At the shadier rear, the deep purple foliage of Actaea simplex ‘Pink Spike’ contrasts with Thalictrum ‘Splendide’ against a tonal backdrop of copper beech.

A path leads between the deep ‘meadow’ borders to an oval seating area, surrounded by taller plants such as Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldschlier’, Agastache ‘Blackadder’ and Cosmos ‘Purity’ for a sense of intimacy. A round herb planter sits beside the table.

Running along the outer edge of the garden is a Beth-Chatto-style planting, with plants such as Allium sphaerocephalon, Eucomis, Stipa tenuissima and the cream form of Eschscholzia californica planted in gravel.