Performing in shows has its draw backs. And performing is what it is. Whichever RHS show you enter the design and planting has to put on a performance. There are huge highs and lows. And one of the lows, for many of the designers is watching their creations (that is if they can bear to) being binned at the end of the week. It is nice to see that one of our leading designers, Tom Stuart-Smith, rescued his Telegraph design and transplanted it into his own garden. But this does beg the question: what we are designing for and with? The RHS does its best to ensure that each garden has its element of recycling both in it and from it. However they are limited by what is achievable. Both our gardens in The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show were small. We are a tiny company and we funded the gardens ourselves and they were a substantial investment. As a result, we had no intention of throwing them away. We were fortunate to sell the first one, and the second we have disassembled and used throughout other gardens. But nothing was thrown away – not even the slate used for the paths. To create a garden that is going to be reused requires a whole different design and construction mind-set. And a whole different set of costs; particularly if it is going to be taken down and reassembled – effectively one garden for the price of two. The hugely expensive set pieces at Chelsea and Hampton Court provoke thought, debate and help taking design to another level. But selling off plants at the end of the day, whilst a tradition and assisting with raising funds (in some cases) or at least giving the plants a home, seems to me to be a sop to the larger problem/attitude that we have about the disposability of some of our more valued assets.
No comments:
Post a Comment