A civil servant and an IT manager are among four would-be designers getting the chance to build their dream garden at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show next month after winning a competition run by the RHS and BBC local radio.
Four winning designs for a ‘Feel Good Front Garden’ were picked from hundreds of entries across the country.
The winners include IT project manager Lee Burkhill from Manchester, whose design evokes the community spirit of TV soap Coronation Street to provide an area where neighbours can socialise and enjoy a cup of tea together.
Civil service trainer Simon Judge took his inspiration from the SS Great Britain, in his home town of Bristol, complete with wooden cargo boxes and a water feature shaped like Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s iconic top hat.
The other two designs are for a beach garden with fishing nets and ‘breakwater’ seating; and a tropical garden designed by horticulture students studying at the Eden Project in Cornwall.
‘I hope these fantastic designs inspire people to get out in their front gardens and transform their grey spaces green,’ said award-winning professional garden designer Ann-Marie Powell, who with fellow designer James Alexander Sinclair will mentor all four winners as they build their gardens.