Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Students blossom at RHS Tatton
From Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 July, Landscape Architecture and Design students 'The Seven Peas', made up of Sam Buckley, Catheryn Gausden, Sam Maindonald, Kateryna Vasyliushchenko - Vainus, Natalie Graham, Waheeda Kothdiwala and Andrew Brotherton, presented their 'My Pod' recuperation garden, which was been designed for St Gemma's Hospice.
My Pod scooped the award for the most creative large garden, the people's choice garden, and a silver gilt medal.
Student Sam Buckley, explained: "Our design is a very immersive and experiential design for a small garden space; the concept is about escapism from stresses and pressures and about recuperation. We have designed a Pod which sits within the planted garden space in which the user can escape into: it contains LED lighting, soft interior and music in which all the cares and stresses can be quelled.
"The exterior is a mini journey and interpretation of the Yorkshire rugged landscape, using sustainable and localised materials, the user is taken on a mini journey through moorland planting, water rills, and dry stone walls on a curved path that winds downward and into the Pod sanctuary."
The team are working alongside St Gemma's Hospice, where the garden is now being donated. They have already raised more than £3,500 in support of the project and donations can be made through their Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/sevenpeasinapod
Steve Heywood, Senior Lecturer in Landscape Architecture at Leeds Metropolitan, added: "I am overwhelmed with pride and respect for my team who have juggled the demands of the final year of a degree course, employment and personal life. There is no better feeling than watching my students develop their skills and talents, show casing their work and ultimately launching their careers. We feel very privileged to have the opportunity to work so closely with the incredible and inspirational staff at St Gemma's Hospice and it's an honour to donate and reinstate the garden within the grounds of the hospice after the show."
An exhibition of the show garden design work is now being displayed at a secondary show at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield.