A CHESHIRE gardener from near Whitchurch is looking for support raising funds to take part in one of the most prestigious events in northern England.

Carolyn Hardern, from Marbury, is set to have a garden at RHS Tatton, in Knutsford, at the show from July 19-23, with her co-creator, Wirral-based Jon Jarvis.

Carolyn has 20 years’ experience in horticultural design and her Tatton garden will be called Constructing Minds and will be her 10th at the show.

The garden, according to the fundraising page set up to help fund it, is to help people in the construction industry, with a reported figure of 700 suicides in 2020.

She said: “After a very stressful 4 months we secured acceptance to build the biggest show garden at RHS Tatton Park in July 2023.

“Titled Constructing Minds, Carolyn and Jon’s garden is now coming to life in a 20m x 14m space at Tatton, where a profusion of trees, ferns, bamboos, and wildflower areas create an overall sense of enclosure and refuge.

OTHER NEWS

“Materials found on construction sites such as concrete and scaffold boards are included in the build.

“The garden is fully accessible by wheelchair, and there are plenty of seating options. A small stream gurgles gently through the garden.

“Crossing the threshold via a rusted steel portico flanked by hawthorn hedges, visitors step onto a meandering gravel pathway.

“Tucked away to the left, the Consultation Glade provides a private, therapeutic space for one-to-one counselling with a mental health first aider.

“A reflective pool, overlooked by a sculpture of the logo for the charity MIND, conveys a sense of calm in this peaceful and rejuvenating spot.”

Once completed, the garden will be moved to Clatterbridge Hospital, in Wirral, which has a number of cancer patients and will be used as an area of tranquillity.

Carolyn added: “In total the garden is costing in the region of £40,000, and Carolyn and Jon have been asking other companies within the industry if they might like to get involved, particularly by sponsoring individual elements of the garden.

“They also welcome donated goods and are depending upon volunteers to help build their garden.

“Any donated monies left over will go equally to construction industry charities Mates in Mind and The Lighthouse Club.”

The fundraiser page can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/constructing-minds-garden-tatton-2023

To find out more about the pair, head to https://jonjosefjarvis.wixsite.com/constructing-minds