RHS CHELSEA 2025
Katy is creating her debut show garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 in the All About Plants category.
She partnered with the UK’s leading neurodiversity charity The ADHD Foundation and is funded by the amazing philanthropic organisation Project Giving Back who support gardens for good causes.
The garden celebrates the beauty and diversity of plants within the All About Plants garden category at RHS Chelsea. The garden experience intends to make visitors with ADHD feel soothed with a calming sense of ‘escapism’ from an intense world. The diverse range of plant species, mirroring human diversity, aims to grow an understanding and celebrate all neurodiverse people in the UK who positively contribute to society by applying their unique talents and perspectives to everyday life.
As visitors weave through the garden’s path, they will immerse themselves in a calm yet subliminally stimulating environment without any mental demands. They can see a richly layered environment filled with a unique tree, shrubs and plants that represent individuality, examples feature the organically shaped Carpinus betulus Swing Tree - with its curved, gravity-defying stem - and the Hydrangea petiolaris that thrives vertically without support - highlighting the garden’s theme of embracing differences and human diversity.
The experience revolves around a sculpture symbolic of a large reflection pool, inviting visitors to focus on a few key species and reflect on the calming beauty of nature. Surrounded by visually stunning plants and five delicately transparent steel-mesh hanging umbrellas that symbolise neurodiverse inclusion, the waterless pool encourages visitors to sit at a nearby bench so they can reflect and celebrate human and botanical individuality.
Katy was inspired by her own personal ADHD diagnosis in 2023.
GARDEN DESIGN FEATURES
A DIVERSE PALETTE OF PLANT CHOICES
A luxurious colour palette inspiring a visceral human response reflects the diversity of humans in all forms reflected in the whimsical plant choices with different colours, forms, sizes and textures. Whether these peat- free grown plants are adapted by humans, such as the topiary or bonsai tree, or naturally occurring, such as their environment, windswept or growing unusually, the choice of plants will encourage visitors to celebrate each of them individually, no matter their shape or colour. These plants support pollinating insects to enhance biodiversity and ecological health.
UNUSUAL TOPIARY SHAPES
Each one, grown from Yew, will be created in different shapes, including an Onion and an Egg, to add to the garden’s theme of diversity. The topiary highlights the interplay between structure (formal planting) and the freedom (whimsical planting) further expressing the feeling of being suppressed in a neuro -typical world or given the right to expression to be our best selves.
CENTRAL REFLECTION POOL
Dublin-based Sculptor Sasha Sykes has been commissioned to design the central focal point in the garden – a 1.8metre reflection pool. Hand-cast and made with resin and recycled resin, the size of the pool ensures that it can be seen across the garden so all visitors can admire the foraged plants and collected materials from the plant list set into the resin sculpture. The pool creates a tool for those with ADHD to focus.
UMBRELLA STRUCTURES
5 distinctive steel-mesh umbrella sculptures, created by internationally renowned sculptor David Begbie , will be suspended from the central Swing Tree. These striking umbrellas embody Begbie’s signature technique of transforming discarded and industrial materials into virtually transparent mesh sculptures. The umbrellas represent inclusivity and will provide a delicate sense of comfort and protection and resemble the charity emblem of the ADHD Foundation and their iconic ‘Neurodiversity Umbrella Project’.
RESTING BENCH
The resting bench will be crafted by AJW Studios from a locally sourced tree that was previously felled with the words ‘Thinking Differently” engraved into the bench.
MATERIAL CHOICES AND RECYCLABILITY
The cement-free garden embraces a simple yet versatile design, utilising recyclable materials like steel and sustainable resources such as the woven willow back panels that will be attached to square-form posts. The selection of durable materials promotes longevity and reduces the need for replacements, whilst the use of steel allows for adaptability, as elements can be reduced or expanded to suit different spaces. The paths are created from a UK sourced self binding gravel known for its porosity. The back panels, made of woven willow, are known for their sustainability by their rapid growth, effective carbon sequestration and significant carbon offset value. Much of the materials used will be re- used in our relocation garden.
KEY PLANTS
Carpinus betulus Swing Tree will be a key and central part of the garden - this tree has a curved stem that almost defies gravity! This tree represents the neurodiverse individual who’s unique strengths and abilities bring to our society.
Hydrangea petiolaris are normally grown as a climber, four of these beautiful hydrangeas will grow against the back wall of the garden. To celebrate difference, a self-supporting Hydrangea petiolaris will stand proudly on its own in the front of the garden. These plants represent 1 in 5 people who are neurodivergent.
An umbellifer family of plants throughout the garden in a range of varieties and heights represent and celebrates the charity's umbrella logo of neuro-inclusivity.
