RNLI Garden Wins Gold Medal at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022
Accredited Contractor Cultura was proud to be an integral part of the build team for the RNLI Garden which has won a Gold Medal at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Designed by multi-award-winning garden designer and plantsman Chris Beardshaw, the creation of this glorious garden has been a truly collaborative venture, pulling on the strengths of all parties involved. The garden itself celebrates both the history and modernity of the RNLI, one of the nation’s most respected charities.
The concept of the RNLI garden cleverly marries style hints from the charity’s Georgian origins with more contemporary design cues reflecting the forward-looking organisation that is the RNLI today.
Bringing their hard landscape expertise to the build, Cultura installed the British Purbeck Stone pitchers and paving which create a textural path flowing through the deep borders of the garden. All stone pieces were individually selected, sized and edge-distressed by hand on-site and laid with patience and precision workmanship.
At the rear of the garden sits a classically inspired, oak pavilion for which Cultura carried out the excavation and concrete pour of the foundations. The pavilion features traditional columns and carved inscription. The structure is spliced by a contemporary green oak arcade.
The garden was completed with the planting of hundreds of flowering herbaceous perennials creating a celebration of texture, form and foliage in a pastel palette of whites, blues and pinks.
Overall, the result is a calm and confident oasis that inspires inquisitiveness, looks back to look forward and echoes the RNLI’s sense of permanence, whilst offering a space in which to reflect on the many elements of the charity’s work.
Phil Jones, CEO, Cultura Group said:
“we are very proud to be part of the RNLI Garden build team and absolutely delighted that it has gone on to win a gold medal. Chris Beardshaw’s design for the garden is remarkable and allows Cultura to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to creating high quality design led green spaces. It is important that we champion and support this vital charity and its lifesaving work. The RNLI saves everyone they can with their 24 hour rescue service and drowning prevention work; since 1824 they have saved more than 143,000 lives.”
Chris Beardshaw said
“Being asked to create a garden for the RNLI, is a huge honour. We’ve always refused for the focus to be about the medal as the most important motivation for us was that the garden did the RNLI justice. Being awarded a Gold is testament to the teamwork and effort of all those involved.”
The RNLI Garden build team also included commercial and residential construction service provider Egidos.
The garden is only made possible by the generous support of Project Giving Back. This new initiative, launched this year at the Chelsea Flower Show, gives UK charities the chance to promote their causes with a garden at the show and funds all associated costs.
