Rachel Platt has become one of five garden designers under the age of 28 to compete for this year’s RHS Young Designer of the Year
Exeter alumna becomes finalist in the RHS Young Designer competition at Tatton Park
Alumna and garden designer Rachel Platt (Geography, 2018) has been picked from hundreds of applications across the country to build her first show garden titled ‘The Covid Recovery Garden’ at Tatton Park in July. After the show, the garden will be relocated in its entirety to Brookside Clinic, a spine and brain rehabilitation hospital in Aylesbury.
Rachel Platt has become one of five garden designers under the age of 28 to compete for this year’s RHS Young Designer of the Year. The competition aims to highlight emerging talent and give aspiring designers the opportunity to launch their career and gain exposure at such a prestigious event.
Hoping to win gold and ‘Best in Show’ this year, Rachel’s Garden aims to provide a restorative sanctuary at a hospital for those suffering from long-covid, the shape of which is inspired by Caduceus, the staff of Hermes, often used as a medical symbol. Visitors to the show can expect to see a selection of air purifying and remedial plants which benefit lung health as well as a sculpture inspired by the spike protein anatomy of COVID-19, a large transparent arbour and a rain garden which is fed by a steel rill. She says: “Ever since my parents took me to my first RHS show, it has always been a dream of mine to design a garden at such a prestigious flower show.”
Lex Falleyn, show manager for RHS Tatton Park, said: “We are really excited to see the ideas of these five young designers come to life at RHS Tatton Park this year. It’s impressive to see how they have used their garden designs to highlight global issues affecting people and the planet. We hope they inspire the next generation of gardeners to come and see the show and to try horticulture as a hobby or a future career.”
RHS Flower Show Tatton Park runs from 20-24 July and tickets can be purchased at www.rhs.org.uk/tatton
Image: Rachel's garden
Date: 12 May 2022