Show gardens will be on display at Audley End House and Gardens from Friday, August 29, to Sunday, August 31.
Saffron Walden-based TKE Landscaping has created a large-scale, wildlife-friendly show garden, with support from Basildon firm Landscapes by Design.
The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) garden design (Image: APL) The Pursuit of Excellence Garden is a walk-through space designed for year-round appeal, and marks the 30th anniversary of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL).
The garden features layered planting, a seating area, and architectural, drought-tolerant varieties.
Paul Newman of Designscape in Welwyn Garden City and Sarah Plested of Bramley Apple Garden Design in Hampshire designed the garden.
Charlotte Hayden from the English Heritage Historic and Botanic Garden Training Programme at Audley End House and Gardens said: “We have created a ‘forest edge’ garden that draws inspiration from two ecologically important habitats—broadleaved woodlands and wild meadows.
“We hope to highlight the many relationships within these ecosystems and to demonstrate that even the smallest spaces can provide the conditions to support and inspire biodiverse gardens.”
The APL will also run a drop-in landscaping and design clinic at the fair, offering visitors expert advice on their own garden projects.
Among the of the highlights of the fair is the Beautiful Borders, compact 9m² garden displays packed with planting ideas.
This year’s theme is Cultivating Connections.
Charlotte Hayden, along with Jess Rowbury from the same training programme, embraced the theme by creating The Wood and Wildlife Garden.
Charlotte Hayden and Jess Rowbury’s garden design (Image: Charlotte Hayden and Jess Rowbury) Their design is inspired by the biodiversity found where two habitats meet.
Another entry from Audley End, The Interwoven Garden, is the work of senior kitchen gardener Emily Passmore.
Her design celebrates the human relationship with plants through history, with a focus on traditional uses such as weaving and natural dyeing.
Emily said: “My aim is to inspire visitors with a beautiful garden that is rich in biodiversity and history.
“Alongside the ornamental plants are native plants like nettles, stinking iris, and brambles.
“While these may be plants that many gardeners want to remove, I’m including them in my design to highlight their value for nature and people.”
Emily Passmore’s design for The Interwoven Garden (Image: Emily Passmore)
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