Delight as Mental Health Garden takes gold
A garden dedicated to mental health awareness has taken the top prize at this year’s Harrogate Flower Show.
The Mental Health Garden, designed by Jo Manfredi-Hamer Garden Design with plants supplied by leading commercial nursery and BALI Registered Affiliate member Johnsons of Whixley, took the Gold Award at the 2019 show. The garden was created in support of Leeds Mind, the mental health charity which provides help and information when people need it most.
Johnsons provided the trees and plants for the garden, which includes different shades of pebbles to represent depression and improved mental health through counselling and support.
A semicolon, sometimes worn by mental health sufferers, has been incorporated into the design, along with features to represent self-harm, strength and activities often chosen to combat mental health issues.
The garden includes Kernel, a design by the award-winning sculptor David Harber. A beautiful polished stone sphere, Kernel has a mirror-polished stainless steel wedge cut into it to reveal a shiny core of oxidised steel, representing inner strength.
Eleanor Richardson, marketing co-ordinator at Johnsons of Whixley, said: “We are absolutely delighted that this stunning garden has been awarded one of the top prizes at the prestigious Harrogate Flower Show. As a company, we are thrilled to have been able to add to the impact of Jo’s incredible design.
“While awareness of mental health issues has improved in recent years, thanks to campaigns such as Time To Change, it’s vital that this remains in the spotlight so that people receive the help and support that they need, when they need it.”
Jo was inspired to create the garden after seeing the impact of mental health issues on someone close to her and wanted to highlight the issues whilst communicating a message of positivity.
Johnsons of Whixley is one of the largest commercial nursery businesses in Europe, and a trusted supplier of plants and trees to the amenity sector in the UK.