Water sits at the centre of our ‘Silent No More’ garden

Water sits at the centre of our ‘Silent No More’ garden design at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

A deep central pool is linked to a series of smaller rills that move through the space, forming a thread that connects different areas of the garden.

The layout takes subtle inspiration from the female reproductive system. The central pool and connecting waterways reference the fallopian tubes, cervix and vagina, creating a quiet framework for the garden without being literal.

Our garden designer Darren Hawkes has used water as both a design feature and a way of telling the garden’s story. The rills and pool guide visitors through the garden, creating a sense of movement while reinforcing the idea of connection.

That sense of flow reflects Lady Garden Foundation’s mission to encourage more open conversations around gynaecological health. The water moves steadily through the garden, linking one space to another, acting as a reminder that conversations need to move just as freely between friends, families and communities.

This is particularly important when it comes to ovarian cancer. Most women with a very early stage of ovarian cancer often don’t have any symptoms at all so the vague symptoms that do exist can often be overlooked. This means awareness and early conversations can make a real difference. By referencing the female body in a thoughtful way, the garden encourages people to stop, think and talk about something that is too often avoided.

At the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, our garden offers not just a place to pause, but a reminder that awareness begins with conversation and conversation can save lives.

A progress video from Darren Hawkes