Scale model of garden
2nd June 2025
As visitors stand at the edge of the garden, they will be visually struck by four striking architectural clay structures measuring 2.5 metres high. The inspiration for these came from Eduardo Chillida’s sculpture La Casa del Poeta III, with its enclosing, interconnecting forms. The overhanging tops of these structures form a cocoon-like space, evoking the protective nature of the womb and inviting viewers to begin their own interpretations and conversations.
Once they enter the garden, visitors will encounter richly planted borders of shifting tones of colours, beginning with soft, silky greys, pale pinks and light blues into stronger,bolder tones, which will cascade around five sculptures. These five sculptures represent the five gynaecological cancers, and will be created from different materials.
In June 2025, Darren Hawkes and the Lady Garden Foundation applied to the RHS for a site at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026. The application included a scale model of the garden, a full plant list, several drawings and an aerial plan. The pictures revealed a beautiful, show-stopping garden where arresting hard landscaping features that reflect the charity’s reputation of being loud, bold and fearless are woven seamlessly into an enchanting, gentle planting scheme. The features are abstract in form – however looking closely viewers could interpret subtle references to the female form – these interpretations are conversation starters.
