FOLLOWERS of Chelsea Flower Show will be aware that this year’s best show garden was judged to be Tom Stuart-Smith’s creation for Laurent-Perrier. The seven-times RHS gold medal-winning show garden designer broke with tradition by planting a garden that was predominantly green. Green, cloud-pruned hornbeams rose over billowing beds of green planting, highlighted only by restrained points of white, provided by astrantia and the smallest planting of peonies. It was an unexpected move from the man whose previous plantings have been picked out for their painter-like use of colour and almost tapestry-like effects. Gardeners curious to see a Stuart-Smith landscape for themselves can take up the offer of joining one of three special tours of Trentham Gardens in Staffordshire, to be held throughout the summer. A formal parterre, designed in 1840 by Sir Charles Barry - architect of the House of Commons - has been restored to evoke that period but a series of lower terraces has been reworked by Tom, who was commissioned to come up with a contemporary take on the historic Italian garden. Gardens manager Michael Walker explained: “The accent is on taking risks, rather than simply recreating a piece of history.” The Trentham scheme was used as the inspiration for Tom’s 2005 Chelsea show garden, which, true to form, won an RHS gold medal. According to garden writer Stephen Lacey: “The garden plays historic design elements and materials against modern, and formality against naturalism.” Trentham also features a floral prairie designed by Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf, which was completed in spring 2007, and a range of other garden areas, woodland walks and a grass amphitheatre.
Trentham Gardens tours are to be held on June 4, July 2 and August 6, starting at 11am and costing £10 per person (£8.50 for RHS members).Places must be booked in advance by calling 01782 646646.
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