BBC Gardeners World Live 2024 Urban Gardens
Back in November 2023, The APL organised the National Finals of the World Skills UK Landscape Competition held in Oldham. 8 Competitors were given 16.5hrs to build a garden test piece from scratch. This year there was the extra incentive to finish in the top 4. The prize was an opportunity to build a show garden at the 2024 BBC GWL flower show and have it judged as a show garden by an expert panel.
The top four were Anna Mcloughlin, Ceri Fuber, Aimee Copeland and Jacob Mercer. https://hta.org.uk/apl-worldskills-uk-2023.
The four have been split into two teams of two and assigned a garden design each by Cherry Carmen Garden Design.
Urban Gardens BBC GWL 2024
The Urban Gardens are a new feature at this years show. https://www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com/whatson/urban-gardens/.
The gardens designed are focused around how to embrace the issues one might face from climate change. One show’s a waterlogged or boggy garden. Being north facing it doesn’t have the support of the sun to dry it out. The other garden is dry, south facing and hot in the summer.
Rather than trying to combat these challenges by exporting or importing soils, spending money on extensive drainage or irrigation, we want to show the visitors how to welcome them with the right plants and design.
Both gardens are inspired by geometric shapes, are the same size and shape with nearly identical paving, flower bed and water space.
The ideas shown on the gardens are relevant to anyone facing the same problems in any areas of their garden and we hope will not only be a challenge to build, but also create great conversation with the visitors.
The Urban Gardens Design
Wet Garden 2
Dry Garden
Dry Garden 2
The Plant List For Wet And Shady
Ligularia dentata
Astilbe “peach blossom”
Astrantia “Roma”
Gillenia trifolata
Primula vialii
Blechnum gibbum “silver queen “
Gunnera perpensa
Brunnera macrophylla “Alexander’s great”
Hosta elegans
Hosta patriot
Ajuga reptans “burgundy glow”
Darmera peltata
The Plant List For Dry And Sunny
Yucca rostrata
Osteospermum “sennen sunrise”
Salvia nemorosa caradonna
Stipa gigantea
Artemisia schmidtiana “nana”
Lavatera “Barnsley silver”
Anthemis tinctoria “lemon ice”
Verbena rigida
Eryngium planum “blue hobbit”
Allium sphaerocephalon
Lavandula grosso
Typha minima
Hesperaloe parviflora
It was a very tough build, but amazingly both gardens were completed in 5 days.
A huge thank you goes out to APL members Design it Landscapes for their support in the build of the garden, and also thank you for our sponsors. Bradstone, Fullbrook Nurseries, Wetland Plants, CED Stone, Tilers Tools, Water Artisans and Landscape Plus. Without their help, we wouldn't be able to build these gardens. A thankyou should also go to BBCGWL (Immediate Events) for giving us the opportunity.
Well done to all four young competitors, and to Cherry Carmen for producing a fantastic set of designs.
The Wet Shady Garden won Silver Merit Award, The Dry Sunny Garden received Gold Award
See the images below of the build and the gardens completed.
Urban Gardens BBCGWL 2024
The Designer Cherry Carmen
The Young Builders
The Helpers "Design It Landscapes"
Aimee Cutting Paving using Tilers Tools Saw
Friends From Cafre College NI
The Wet Shady Garden 1
Wet Shady Garden 2
Wet Shady Garden 3
Dry Sunny Garden 1
Dry Sunny Garden 2
Dry Sunny Garden 3
The Final Interview and Receiving Best Urban Garden Award
Interested in getting more involved?
Please contact our APL team who will be more than happy to assists you with upcoming events and how to get yourself ready for the event season in the future.