BBC North West Community Garden RHS at Tatton Flower Show 2021

This show garden is split into different zones to represent the diverse, eclectic mix of community gardens here in the North West. I’ve designed this garden around the themes of diversity and accessibility, with a number of zones to represent them.

• Grow your own in urban spaces.
• Community Orchard & Wild Flowers for wildlife
• Community learning and social space

• What is the BBC Community Garden?
• Where is the BBC Community Garden going after RHS Tatton?
• Plant list
• Suppliers of the show garden

Garden Ninja designing at RHS Tatton 2021

It’s a huge honour to be asked to design a show garden again for the BBC. This year’s theme of community gardening could not be closer to my heart. If you’ve followed my work, you know how passionate I am about encouraging new gardeners to green up their spaces. Diverse groups of gardeners of all abilities inspire this community garden.

With the design, I want it not only to look gorgeous but also to feel truly accessible, which is quite tricky for a show garden. I’m using only reclaimed materials and providing small-space solutions that people can replicate at home. I want this garden to be for everyone, no matter their budget or experience. I’m really hoping the design, planting and choice of materials allow me to achieve this!

What is the BBC Community Garden Based on?

BBC North West Tonight visited five very different local community gardening groups: The Wonky Garden in Cheshire, Green Heart Den in Cumbria, Liverpool Credit Union Garden, Great Harwood Allotments near Blackburn and Harrop Fold High School in Salford.

Each group fed ideas into the final garden design, highlighting what they believe are important elements in a community garden, from growing cut flowers and fruit and vegetables to having a space to socialise outside with other members of the community.   

Where is the BBC Community Garden Going after Tatton?

After the show, the plants and materials will go back to the RHS, which will donate them to the Wharton and Cleggs Lane Church and Community Centre Garden in Little Hulton, one of the many local community gardening groups supported by the RHS Community Gardening team in the North West.

Plant List BBC Community Garden

The plant list for show gardens is always one of the most exciting bits! Here is the provisional list, subject to change until the garden is planted.

• Achillea Coronation Gold
• Achillea Terracotta
• Agastache
• Alchemilla mollis
• Brunnera macrophylla Jack Frost 
• Calamagrostis Karl Foerster
• Dryopteris erythrosora
• Erigeron karvinskianus ‘Profusion’
• Geranium ‘Blushing Turtle’
• Geranium ‘Foundling’s Friend’
• Geranium ‘Mavis Simpson’ 
• Geranium ‘Orkney Cherry’ 
• Geranium ‘Rozanne’
• Geum ‘Scarlet Tempress’
• Geum ‘Tequila Sunrise’
• Inula helenium
• Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ 
• Helenium ‘The Bishop’ 
• Helenium ‘Waldtraut’
• Helichrysum italicum (Curry Plant)
• Knautia macedonica
• Luzula nivea
• Monarda didyma ‘Fireball’
• Monarda didyma ‘Prairie Night’
• Nastrutum
• NNepeta’s ix hills giant’
• Panicum virg. ‘Prairie Sky’
• Pennisetum Shogun
• Penstemon ‘Garnet’
• Rudbeckia ‘Henry Eilers’ 
• Sanguisorba officinalis
• Salvia ‘Caradonna
• Thymus citriodorus Aureus 
• Thymus Doone Valley
• Thymus serphyllum Pink Chintz 
• Verbena bonariensis
• Phystostegia
• Heuchers (wall planter)

Veg, herbs and edibles

• Amaranthus tricolour ‘Green Giant’
• Blackberry thornless evergreen
• Tayberry / Autumn Raspberry
• Tomatoes
• Courgettes
• Chard
• Kale (Rainbow)
• Squash
• Peas
• Beans
• Sage
• Malva
• Fennel
• Chives
• Basil
• Borage
• Strawberries

Trees & Shrubs

• Prunus spinosa
• Malus ‘Everest’

Did you know that you can take my course and learn how to become a Garden Ninja yourself? Click here for details.

Who is supporting the BBC Community Garden?

The following companies and local craftspeople are supporting the garden by providing products or services, some at a discounted rate, to help the garden reach its full potential. Please visit them if you want to take parts of the garden and replicate them for yourselves!

Timber & Fittings for the Reclaimed Carpentry:

Graham Leece: The Door Company NW Ltd.

Sherman & Young

North Hire & Sales

Paving & Gravel:

CED Stone

Plants & Trees:

Bernards Nurseries

Majestic Trees

Peat Free Compost:

Dalefoot Composts