The National Garden Scheme Garden

A selection of plants have also been donated by National Garden Scheme garden owners and incorporated into the design, exemplifying the spirit of generosity that is woven through the relationship the charity has with its supporters. A cleft oak structure, made of UK grown oak is central to the garden design and to the idea of bringing visitors and volunteers together, and has been designed by Ben Stuart-Smith and created by Fenton Scott-Fielder.

Tom Stuart-Smith OBE says: “The National Garden Scheme is a wonderfully unique charity, and I am proud to have opened my own garden in aid of it for nearly 30 years. It’s a very special honour for me to be helping bring the National Garden Scheme to an even wider audience through this new garden, that has been made possible with support from Project Giving Back.”

As with much of Tom’s work the garden will showcase a juxtaposition and contrast; simplicity and complexity; the modern and the romantic, forging a connection between people and place.  

“I really do think when you first see this garden your heartbeat will go down. It’s about the calm you feel when you enter a woodland.”

Tom is particularly interested in planting schemes inspired by plant communities as they occur in natural and semi-natural landscapes and is known for his plant combinations that combine naturalism and modernity. The National Garden Scheme Garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 will be a garden of naturalistic planting incorporating wider biodiversity and which consciously provides a sense of tranquility and calm.  

Plant choices for this woodland-edge garden will include: the stunning hazels Corylus avellana, and herbaceous plants including Carex oshimensis ‘JS Greenwell’, Cynanchum ascyrifolium, Euphorbia palustris and Molopospermum peloponnesiacum (longer list below).  

Plant List

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