RHS BADMINTON

We were absolutely delighted to be awarded an RHS Gold Medal for the pocket garden ‘Shared Breath’: our garden for the RHS Badminton Flower Show in July 2026, created in partnership with Dorothy House Hospice.

This garden was a very personal project for me. As a volunteer compassionate companion for Dorothy House, I have seen first-hand the comfort that nature can bring during the final stages of life. I am aware of the comfort that nature could bring during the final stages of life. As our hospitals tend to be so deplete of light and outdoor space I wanted to create a garden that offered a place for reflection, connection and respite. Where people and their loved ones can pause, reflect and simply share a breath.

The name ‘Shared Breath’ reflects the fundamental interconnectedness of all living things through our collective reliance on a single resource: oxygen.

Designed in response to the show’s theme, ‘Variety of Life’, the garden brought together richly layered planting, and materials chosen with both people and planet in mind. Sustainability and biodiversity informed every aspect of the garden, from drought tolerant planting to locally sourced and recycled materials with a permeable path made from recycled metal edging and recycled shells which are a byproduct from the fishing industry. The garden also featured a shallow bowl made from low-carbon cement which provided a water source for wildlife.

The extraordinarily hot weather during the show put the garden’s climate resilience to the test. It was wonderful to see the planting not only cope, but come alive with wildlife. Cuckoo bumblebees, honey bees, butterflies and moths all found their way into the garden, which felt like an affirmation of what we had set out to achieve. The garden was watered during the intense heat but the heavily mulched and densely planted soil cover meant that moisture was retained.

Beneath a shady canopy of a Parrotia persica, a single chair provided a comfortable, sheltered place to relax and connect with the garden. Echinacea purpurea, Alchemilla Mollis, Agastache Black Adder, low open flowered roses, ferns and shrubs created layers of colour, texture. Grasses including Sesleria Autumnalis and Pennisetum Fairy Tails gave movement while providing food and habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.

Following Badminton, the garden was relocated to the Dorothy House grounds in Winsley, where it will become a permanent part of the healing gardens for the new Bath Institute for Supportive Care. There it will continue to provide a place of respite and connection for patients, families and staff, while supporting biodiversity and wildlife for years to come.

I’m hugely grateful to Dorothy House, MTS Gardens and all the brilliant volunteers and supporters who helped bring ‘Shared Breath’ to life.

EXPLORE THE GARDEN

You can find out more about ‘Shared Breath’ on the RHS website and on our Instagram page. ‘Shared Breath’ was also featured by BBC News in ‘How we can help our gardens survive the heat’, exploring the importance of creating climate-resilient gardens in the face of climate change.

See article on RHS website ‘Shared Breath’ Pocket Garden

And also click here for BBC News coverage