RHS BADMINTON

Introducing ‘Shared Breath’, our pocket garden for the RHS Badminton Flower Show 2026 running from 8 – 12 July. The new event celebrates the restorative impact of gardening on people and the planet. Created in partnership with Dorothy House, the garden responds to the show’s theme ‘Variety of Life’, offering a peaceful, restorative space for those navigating the final stages of life. The title Shared Breath reflects the fundamental interconnectedness of all living things through our collective reliance on a single resource: oxygen. The garden offers somewhere for people and their loved ones to pause, reflect and simply share a breath.

Inspired by Charlotte’s personal experiences as a volunteer companion for Dorothy House and the organisation’s vision of a society where death is a natural part of life, the garden is a place for reflection, connection and respite. Nature, and its ability to reveal the connection between life and death, plays a core role in the care provided by Dorothy House. Time spent immersed in nature helps people experience and come to accept the final stages of life. Just as the natural world continually reminds us of cycles of growth, decline and renewal, Shared Breath explores how gardens can offer comfort and perspective during difficult moments.

The garden also raises awareness of the vital work of Dorothy House. Now in its fiftieth year, the charity provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care, emotional support and bereavement services to more than 4,250 people each year across Bath and Wiltshire.

Following the show, the garden will be relocated to the Dorothy House grounds in Winsley, becoming a permanent part of the healing gardens for the new Bath Institute for Supportive Care, a pioneering centre dedicated to bereavement support, education and collaborative research. The garden will provide a lasting resource for patients, families and staff, while continuing to support local biodiversity and wildlife for years to come.

The Design

‘Shared Breath’ has been designed as an immersive, richly planted space, with sustainability and biodiversity informing every aspect of the garden. Wildlife-friendly species have been carefully selected and materials sourced locally or from recycled sources where possible.

The garden features an abundance of colourful perennials, including Geranium ‘Dreamland’ and Echinacea purpuream, creating height, texture and movement while providing nectar for pollinators and habitat for wildlife. Alchemilla mollis, Pittosporum tobira ‘Nanum’ and low, open-flowered roses, ferns and shrubs form a ground layer that protects the soil and creates additional habitat. A full list of the plants used can be found below.

Beneath the canopy of a Parrotia persica is a chair, providing a comforting, sheltered place to relax and connect with the garden.

A permeable path, made from recycled shells, leads visitors through the garden, allowing rainwater to naturally drain into the ground while creating habitat for small invertebrates. Nearby, a shallow bowl made from low-carbon cement provides a water source for wildlife.

We were extremely proud to have been awarded an RHS Gold medal for this very special garden. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Dorothy House, MTS Gardens and all the volunteers.

See article on RHS website ‘Shared Breath’ Pocket Garden

And also click here for BBC News coverage