Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, Andy will create a ‘New English’ design for The M&G Garden that celebrates traditional craftsmanship and the beauty of natural materials and country garden planting.

‘New English’ design for The M&G Garden

With references to the gardens at Hidcote Manor and Sissinghurst, The M&G Garden will have a strong asymmetric quality, characteristic of the Arts and Crafts style; a series of formal, linear paths and terraces will combine with a mirrored water channel to create a succession of garden rooms delineated by three striking monolithic walls and a ‘floating’ oak bench, that are framed within a bold yew hedge. 

Simple in form, without superfluous ornamentation, the garden will feature a palette of natural materials including aged copper, English oak and Purbeck stone, shown in their raw beauty with rustic textures revealed and construction techniques exposed and celebrated.

The dramatic focal point of the garden will be the ‘energy wave’ sculpture.  Crafted in copper rings, the sculpture will weave through the garden in a free and unconstrained way.  Spilling across borders and pathways and emerging in the rectangular pool, it will enliven the garden without challenging its formality or architectural framework. 

The ‘New English’ style of planting that Andy has created for The M&G Garden has a harmonious woodland-edge quality to it.  Domed umbellifers and clipped Ilex (Holly) will channel the eye through the garden, echoing the repetition of the patterns seen throughout the design, whilst clumps of billowing perennials in a palette of soft pink, white, lilac and yellow will gently soften the formal architectural edges of the garden. At opposite ends of the space, Cercidiphyllum trees (Candyfloss trees) will provide height and shade and anchor the garden to the site.

“I am delighted to be designing The M&G Garden at the 2012 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. I decided to create an Arts and Crafts design for The M&G Garden as the company’s values are about tradition and flair which fits in well with the Arts and Crafts theme.” Andy Sturgeon said. “I also realised, while researching for an article on Arts and Crafts gardens that my own garden designs, although frequently modern, are totally reliant on the fundamental design principles and ethos of this popular movement.”

“We’re very excited to unveil a new M&G Garden design for the third year at RHS Chelsea, and this time with the help of Andy Sturgeon.” Jacqui Haskins, Marketing Director at M&G said. “Andy has an outstanding pedigree in garden design and has previously show-cased his craftsmanship at the Show. We have been watching him closely for some time now and we’re confident that his design of The M&G Garden will be a favourite amongst the gardening community at next year's Show.”

The 2012 RHS Chelsea Flower Show runs from 22 - 26 May.