It’s Showtime!

A team of six novice growers who all took up growing at Sunnyside Allotments, Berkhamsted, will be taking their garden design to RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival in July.

Their ‘Sunnyside of Life’ allotment garden aims to highlight the beauty of homegrown, seasonal flowers and promote sustainable floristry. By repurposing old vintage tools, galvanised tubs for rainwater collection and growing spaces, (like Cindy’s painted pink claw foot bath at her allotment!), and woodchip paths, they want to convey the importance of reusing and recycling and celebrate the rejuvenation that is felt by spending time outdoors focused on nature and the joy of a social, community space.

Having seen an Instagram post inviting submissions for RHS Hampton Court Flower Show they decided to submit a design to highlight growing beautiful, often scented flowers on an allotment, which they use to create beautiful bouquets and arrangements for themselves, family and friends.

The group began growing at the allotments two years ago. Since then, friendships have bloomed through a shared love of flowers. They are all from different working backgrounds (NHS nurse, home beauty salon owner, wedding planner and gardener, school admissions officer, event producer and volunteer at Returned to Glory) and all parts of the globe. Cindy is from South Africa and Puri is from Spain.

Along with seed sowing and growing, bunting is being made from fabric found in charity shops and they are gathering recycled and reused props. Independent shop Cook & Butler has loaned a beautiful, recycled greenhouse for the seedlings and pelargoniums at the show.

‘I am loving the opportunity to work with a fabulous group of ladies, passionate about flowers, sustainability, support of wildlife and recycling. Hampton Court is such a special event on the gardening calendar and I am thrilled to be able to tell my children and grandchildren one day that I was a part of it,’ said Cindy.