The Trailfinders Recycled Garden

Designed by Chris Beardshaw. The stylish and contemporary scheme of The Trailfinders Recycled Garden provides a showcase for innovative recycled materials and focuses on Chris's great love - the British natives - all of which have been grown in peat free and peat reduced composts.

In this dramatic view of Chris' Chelsea 2005 show garden, you can see two tall Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' (hornbeam) on either side of a striking central column of recycled mirror. Another mirrored ball is reflected in a cool pool of reflective water. Along side the pool are seen two unclipped box balls (Buxus sempervirens).

In ths close-up above you can see some Chris' favorite British natives, that many now consider to be weeds. Here you can see the natural beauty of them including Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove), the soft white heads of Anthriscus sylvestris (cow parsley) and Leucanthemum vulgare (Oxeye daisy). Behind this you can see a clipped box ball (Buxus sempervirens).

This riot of natives includes the purples of Geranium pratense, more Leucanthemum vulgare (Oxeye daisy), with hints of darker red from the Lychnis viscaria (sticky catchfly). Another view of the same clipped box against the wall.

Finally, here below is an amazing large topiary tree (e.g. Pinus sylvestris (Scotts Pine trees), shaped to emphasize the horizontal branches.

Other plants in Chris's garden included: Ferns (including Athyrium filix-femina, Polypodium vulgare, Asplenium scolopendrium, Dryopteris filix-mas, Polystichum setiferum 'Herrenhausen') and woodland and meadow plants (including Myrrhis odorata, Primula vulgaris, Aquilegia vulgaris 'Nivea', Convallaria majalis, Viola odorata, Carex pendula, Armeria maritima (Thrift) and Achillea millefolium (Yarrow))