Morris & Co. Show Garden is awarded a Gold medal at RHS Chelsea 2022

The Morris & Co. Garden, designed by Ruth Willmott and built by Accredited Contractor The Garden Builders, was awarded a Gold Medal as it was unveiled at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022 this week. Accredited Contractor Location Landscapes also did all the other planting and aftercare, shaping and pruning of the trees.
 
Designed for the British heritage brand, Morris & Co., which was founded by Arts and Crafts designer William Morris in 1861, the garden is a wonderful celebration of craftsmanship and naturalistic planting.
 
Using colour and pattern to bring William Morris’s beautiful interiors into the natural outdoor setting which originally inspired them, the garden is a modern interpretation of two of Morris’s most iconic wallpaper designs, Trellis and Willow Boughs.
 
Ruth Willmott said:

“I have long admired the work of William Morris, so it was a tremendous thrill to create this garden for Morris & Co. and we are all absolutely delighted to receive a Gold medal. Bringing the garden to life has involved dozens of skilled and dedicated experts each adding a creative layer to the finished garden, and it’s been particularly thrilling to collaborate with so many talented craftspeople this year. After a five-year absence from the Show, it is wonderful to be back."

It is the first time that Morris & Co. has sponsored a garden at RHS Chelsea. Lisa Montague, CEO of Morris & Co. said:

“I am so pleased that Ruth’s vision and the hard work of the entire team involved in creating the garden has been recognised with such a prestigious medal. The garden is a wonderful tribute to William Morris whose passion for English gardens and hedgerows and natural affinity to nature is known worldwide. The vivacious colour and pattern that Ruth has created within this naturalistic garden is a joy to behold.”

Legacy project

After the show, elements of the garden will be relocated to three community gardens within the Packington Estate in Islington, in collaboration with the Arc Centre Gardening Collective. The newly redeveloped estate was chosen as it is located close to the site where Morris’s prints were first produced by Jeffrey and Co. over 160 years ago.
 
Speaking about the relocation Ruth said:

“I think the most important thing you can do as a designer of a Chelsea garden is to ensure it lives on in another location after the show. We had always planned to relocate elements of the garden and when my sustainability consultant, Joey Tabone, found the location for us and we realised that the Packington Estate was situated just a few streets from where Morris produced his first prints, we jumped at the chance to work on the project. It really felt like it was meant to be.”

Lisa Montague, CEO of Sanderson Design Group said:

“We’re delighted that elements of the garden will have a long life outside of RHS Chelsea and will inspire a whole new generation of gardeners. We hope the three gardens will bring many years of pleasure to the residents of the Packington Estate, to the people visiting the playground within the estate and to other members of the public passing through on their way to the Regents Canal.”

Image: The Morris & Co. Garden by Ruth Willmott. © Richard Bloom