Young Designers feature at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2022

The next generation of garden designers draw inspiration from the tumultuous events of recent years in a bid to claim the coveted RHS Young Designer of the Year at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2022.

Rising sea levels, long Covid, and carbon footprinting are just some of the topics tackled in the ambitious designs of the five finalists, all aged under 28.

Will Scholey (26, London) has designed the ideal work from home environment to promote a carbon negative commute to work. Naturalistic planting leads to a modern garden office and uses sustainable hard landscaping to help reduce the user’s carbon footprint. 

Looking to provide healing and calming sanctuaries in hospitals, Rachel Platt (25, Buckinghamshire) and Alex Pettit (26, Northamptonshire) have designed spaces to aid recovery and stress relief for patients and NHS staff. Rachel’s ‘The Covid Recovery Garden’ features air purifying and remedial plants to create a restorative garden for those suffering from long Covid whilst Alex uses a protective shelter and reflecting pool in ‘Slow Down, Breathe Deep’ to provide a relaxation space for NHS staff to take a break in.

Taking inspiration from her Anglo-Guyanese roots, Emma Tipping (28, London), uses a vibrant planting selection to create a fun atmosphere whilst also reflecting on rising sea levels, an issue affecting both the Guyanese and British coastlines.

Also taking inspiration from abroad, Tom Clarke (22, North Yorkshire) uses palms and cypress trees to evoke the spirit of Morocco and create a peaceful sanctuary in ‘Paradise Found.’

Lex Falleyn, show manager for RHS Tatton Park, said: “We are really excited to see the ideas of these five young designers come to life at RHS Tatton Park this year. It’s impressive to see how they have used their garden designs to highlight global issues affecting people and the planet. We hope they inspire the next generation of gardeners to come and see the show and to try horticulture as a hobby or a future career.”

RHS Flower Show Tatton Park runs from 20-24 July and tickets can be purchased at www.rhs.org.uk/tatton