The Cancer Research UK Garden - Gold

Gold Medal garden by Andy Sturgeon. This is a modern garden for a healthy lifestyle. The garden design is based around three key pillars of the initiative: Eat Healthily, Stay in Shape and Be SunSmart. These messages are at the core of Andy's ambitious and breathtaking design.

Garden description

The garden is centred on a turquoise blue, infinity-edged swimming pool complete with Jacuzzi and shaded pavilion, which is a first for the Chelsea Flower Show. The overall feel will exude an exotic quality although the planting will use species associated with the UK climate.

The pavilion is framed by tree trunks at the rear of the garden, which form the backdrop and will be under-planted in a modern woodland style, using large drifts of Polystichum (Polystichum setiferum and Polystichum polyblepharum), Lamium orvala and Libertia grandiflora. The front of the garden will use bold blocks of planting integrated with large square tables of neatly clipped yew from Germany and edible plants including large flowering blueberries from Devon, noteworthy for their antioxidant qualities and acknowledged as an excellent source of vitamin C. Herbs such as rosemary, oregano and chives will also add to the edible plant theme.

A simple 'loop style' coffee table has served as Andy's inspiration for the loop bench and the pavilion. The bench is made from concrete and the pavilion will be a similar shape but with a funky slatted screen to cast shade and protect those using it from the sun's damaging rays. The finish will be of polished plaster.

Plant list: (click on any of the green links to read more about the plant and to add to your own 'Plants I want' list)

Acanthus spinosus
Achillea 'Terracotta'
Allium sativum var. ophioscorodom
Allium schoenoprasum
Angelica archangelica
Aquilegia 'Blue Barlow'
Astelia chathamica
Astrantia major 'Claret'
Carex testacea
Deshampsia cespitosa
Dipsacus fullonum
Eremurus 'Cleopatra'; 'Moneymaker'; 'Pinokkio'; 'Sahara'
Eryngium giganteum
Euphorbia cyparissias 'Fens Ruby'
Euphorbia x martini
Euphorbia palustris
Geranium psilostemon
Helleborus Ashdown Hybrids
Helleborus foetidus Westerflisk Group or H. x sternii pewter
Iris 'Superstition'
Knautia macedonica 'Mars Midget'
Kniphofia 'Jenny Bloom'
Lamium orvala
Lavandula dentata
Libertia grandiflora
Lysimachia atropurpurea 'Beaujolais'
Nandina domestica
Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus
Onopordon acanthium
Origanum vulgare 'Aureum'
Paeonia 'Black Panther'
Papaver somniferum 'Black Paeony'
Phlomis russeliana
Pilosella aurantiaca
Polystichum polyblepharum
Polystichum setiferum
Rosmarinus officinalis
Rudbeckia maxima
Salvia officinalis 'Purpurascens'
Salvia x sylvestris 'Mainacht' or 'Viola Klose'
Stipa arundinacea
Stipa tenuifolia
Tulipa acuminata
Tulipa 'Ballerina'
Tulipa sprengeri
Vaccinum corymbosum