The World Vision Garden by Plantify

An international children’s charity is delivering a message on global poverty through a garden at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

World Vision UK has teamed up with award-winning garden designers FlemonsWarlandDesign for the creation. A large, reflective pond forms the garden’s centrepiece, punctuated by two domes made from turf. The first, above the water, represents children who have access to essentials including food, healthcare and education. The second, inverted dome sinks below the water to represent children who have not. The World Vision Garden is framed by a series of screens, giving visitors different views from every angle. At times the garden is totally obscured, at times partially and only one view allows visitors to see the full reflection – where the world is in perfect balance. Based on the Japanese concept of “ma”, the spaces between the shapes and surfaces are just as important as the physical elements of the garden.

John Warland, of FlemonsWarlandDesign, said: “The idea for the World Vision Garden developed quickly and reflects the influence artists like Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson and Richard Wilson have had on my work. “In these relatively austere times in the UK, it is easy to become introspective and focus on preserving one’s own assets and lifestyle. “But everything in life is relative, especially when compared to the millions of children who are living in poverty. “We’re delighted to be working with World Vision on this garden and hope it inspires others to support the work they do.” The plants in the garden have been contributed by www.plantify.co.uk, a website designed to simplify and modernise people’s gardening. The site features a virtual planting map of the show garden, allowing anyone to borrow the professionals’ ideas and recreate a piece of the flower show at home.