So here it is! This is the 'Hasmead Sand and Ice Garden' designed by me to be built at the Chelsea Flower Show in May.The garden addresses concerns about global warming, melting glaciers, and expanding deserts. The soft flowing lines of the desert contrast with the jagged edges of melting ice.
A focal point in the garden is a large water wall constructed of different coloured pieces of Perspex, which represents cracked and melting ice.
On the other side of the garden, the silhouette of the rear boundary and the wall down the centre of the garden echo the outline of rolling sand dunes, and during the day its shadow moves around the garden, advancing across the ice on the other side.
A series of curved walls and paths sweep around the garden. The hand crafted pieces of stone vary from ‘soft sand’ shapes on one side of the garden to ‘sharp ice’ on the other side. These walls were inspired by the walls of Nijo Castle which was constructed in Kyoto, Japan from 1601.
After 5 years of negotiation, the Kyoto protocol was finally ratified in 2005. The countries that have signed the agreement have committed to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions which may contribute to Climate Change.
You can also see the garden on the RHS website - http://www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea/2007/exhibitors/showgardens/hasmead.asp
Linda Bush is a garden designer based in Kent.
www.lindabush.co.uk/chelsea.html
