Sky is the limit at RHS Flower Show for Young Designer of the Year
Sam Ovens, a 25 year old Cornwall based garden designer has been named the winner of the Young Designer of the Year competition at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, which opens to RHS members today. Sam was presented with his award at the show by RHS President Sir Nicholas Bacon.
The Young Designer competition is one of many RHS initiatives to support Horticulture Matters, the industry wide campaign to raise the profile of careers in horticulture. The theme for this year was ‘Avant-Gardening' and The Sky's the Limit, is a garden which explores our interaction with the outdoors and received an RHS Gold Medal.
Sam has always had a love for the outdoors and he designed and constructed a show garden at RHS Hampton Court in 2011. His RHS Tatton winning garden connects people with plants and wildlife, acting as a reminder of the value and precious nature of our outdoor spaces. Every square inch of ground of the multi-storey garden has been planted, giving a number of different perspectives from which to explore the garden. The garden's design is designed to make people stop, think, and see that there are other ways of doing things.
Dougal Philip, Chair of RHS Show Gardens Judging Panel said "The gardens from the young designers were of a very high standard this year and they were very ambitious. They all kept to brief and delivered so very well. We look forward to seeing their work in the future."
Returning for its 6th year, the competition gives young garden designers the chance to kick start their careers, making their Show Garden debut and gaining invaluable exposure at a prestigious RHS Show. By pushing the boundaries, this year's competition had a theme of ‘Avant-Gardening' encouraging the young designers to take a daring touch of invention, new techniques and experimentation. Each finalist received expert advice from RHS medal winning designer, Paul Hervey-Brookes who mentored them on their journey to RHS Tatton, including an opportunity earlier this year to help Paul on his own RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden.
Fellow finalist, Clare Broadbent, also received an RHS Gold Medal for her entry WORKout, a garden which is an innovative approach to encourage daily use of outdoor space and combines the mental and physical benefits received from exercise with the benefits from being outside. As a relaxing water garden, it creates a therapeutic environment, encouraging people to use their garden daily and to enjoy the outdoors whilst getting fit. The garden also provides a sanctuary for water wildlife.
Alex Schofield's garden Prehistoric Modernism, a garden about worshipping the sun, was awarded a RHS Silver-Gilt medal. Alex was the third finalist in this year's competition and his garden captures and reflects light, with Perspex screening which transforms the sun's rays on to ornamental grasses and perennials.
With all of this from the creative minds of the best of our young designers, in addition to the intriguingly themed Elements conceptual gardens, and an array of gorgeous exhibits over the four zones of Inspire, Escape, Feast and Grow, visitors are sure to have a great day out at this year's RHS Flower Show Tatton Park.
Tickets are still available for the Show which runs until Sunday 27 July. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.rhs.org.uk/tatton.