PL ANNING AHEAD
INSPIRE
LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATES WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO BUILD THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED YEO VALLEY ORGANIC GARDEN IN SEPTEMBER
C
helsea is nothing new to Landscape Associates. The multi-medalwinning landscaping company has been appearing at the show since 2014, when it hit the ground running with two show gardens. Now it’s looking to build its seventh; but whilst the contractor has plenty of experience under its belt, this year’s show is set to be like no other. The Yeo Valley Organic Garden was due to appear at Chelsea in May 2020, and since the show’s cancellation that year, Landscape Associates and designer Tom Massey have been waiting patiently to bring the garden to life. Inspired by sponsor Yeo Valley’s own organic garden in Somerset, the show garden has been designed to help showcase the benefits organic gardening can have on the environment. It’s not the first time Landscape Associates and Tom Massey have worked together. They created the Lemon Tree Trust Garden at Chelsea in 2018 and have worked on a number of domestic gardens. “We have a good working relationship with Tom. His designs tend to be uncompromising, and he really likes to push the envelope,” explains managing director Richard Curle. “You invest so much into these gardens; they become a preoccupation and start to take up all of your time. Because of this, you have to have a connection to the garden, it’s got to leap off the page.”
Fortunately, the Yeo Valley Organic Garden did exactly that. “Working with Tom Massey again was an added benefit, and we had a good connection with the sponsors. Hearing more about the regenerative farming model and how they’ve been gardening organically for a number of years to reduce their impact on the environment really appealed to us.” The garden is now set to appear at the September show, which has thrown up more challenges than just a change in planting palettes. When the show typically takes place in May, Richard says contractors can come back after a Christmas break ready to go full throttle
quite difficult. We’re having to make sure we’re ordering materials in plenty of time and stockpiling them at our depot, so we know we have everything we’re likely to need on site.” Despite the challenges, Richard and his team are ramping up their preparations, ensuring as
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CONNECTION TO THE GARDEN, IT’S GOT TO LEAP OFF THE PAGE
many aspects as possible are prefabricated, such as the steam-bent timber egg which forms the centrepiece of the garden. A large Corten trough has also been prefabricated, which is the start of a water feature running into a stream. When we spoke to Richard, he was about to start a practice run of setting up the garden in the company’s yard. There are still some things which cannot be avoided, though, regardless of how prepared you are ahead of the show. “The naturalistic elements of the garden are going to be the biggest challenge. It’s very difficult to prefabricate things like streams and woodland glades – that has to happen on site. And at Chelsea, you want to make it look as though they’ve been there forever, and they need to be perfect. So, we’re looking at how the stream is going to flow, and we’re going to position and number the boulders to know their exact locations within the final garden ahead of them being delivered to the showground.” Regardless of what it must overcome, Landscape Associates is undeterred. “I’m looking at this year’s event as a positive; it’s potentially going to be the only time it will be held in September. I can’t see the date being moved again. So, it’s a big year to go and see what’s different; to be involved in that is being involved in a bit of history.”
with Chelsea preparations. “Coming at the show in September, preparing at the busiest time of year in what is one of our busiest years to date, has been difficult.” Then there’s issues around supply, as the industry struggles with a materials shortage. “There are cost implications and massive lead times in trying to source materials. It’s been
GRAVEL GARDEN IN SOMERSET TIMBER EGG
GROWING FOR CHELSEA
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YEO VALLEY GARDEN IN SOMERSET
Pro Landscaper / September 2021 89
19/08/2021 11:52