Show Gardens

Inspired by the coastline of Southend-on-Sea, the pier and the surrounding beach, the Southend Council ‘By The Sea’ garden offered a peaceful idyll situated by the coast. This relaxed and practical space featured cool, calming blues and naturalistic planting.

Over the past 10 years James and his team have designed and created multiple show and display gardens, most notably RHS Hampton Court but also layouts for the 2012 Olympic Park and ‘Britain In Bloom’.

‘A Place to Think’ was an informal garden designed to offer young people a space to talk and reflect. The relaxed environment enables students to focus and study for exams while also providing a safe and enclosed area. The combination of warm pinks, shades of purple and cool blues creates a calming atmosphere across the garden.

James’ garden ‘This Is Me’ examined dyslexia and the wider effect it can have on an individual. A stream ran through the garden which illustrates the many ideas dyslexic people have, an enclosed seating area depicts the isolation they feel and the multi-stemmed tree represents the multiple routes dyslexics take in life.