grow a chelsea flower show garden
Designed by RHS Chelsea newcomers Nick Burton and Duncan Hall of Burton Hall Garden Design, this show garden has been made possible thanks to generous sponsorship from Project Giving Back, a grant-making charity that supports gardens for good causes at RHS Chelsea before relocating them to sites across the UK.
The garden will display an immersive, semi-wooded space which will celebrate and reflect the unique qualities that people with Down's syndrome bring to society, and will be built at the site with the help of a group of young adults from the Down’s syndrome community.
A water pool that initially appears to be a barrier to progress symbolises the daily challenges faced by people with Down’s syndrome who, despite huge progress in recent years, still experience stigma, often resulting in reduced opportunities and life expectancy. A submerged bridge within the water pool allows the barrier to be overcome and visitors arrive at a welcoming shelter designed to symbolise a warm and comforting hug.
Inspired by Duncan’s Hall’s nephew, Liam (aged 8), who has Down’s syndrome and has been supported by Down’s Syndrome Scotland, Duncan and Nick Burton said, “We are delighted to debut our first RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden. Visitors will discover a garden that highlights the qualities of people with Down’s syndrome and the issues they face in society. We want to challenge people to embrace the value and potential of people with Down’s syndrome who have so much to offer us. We have designed a garden full of naturalistic planting with some botanically interesting varieties and are working with some excellent craftspeople to create interesting and inspirational design features.”
Chief Executive of Down’s Syndrome Scotland, Eddie McConnell said, "We are incredibly proud, as a small Scottish charity, to throw a spotlight on the amazing people in our Down’s syndrome community through our RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden. None of this would be possible without the generous support of Project Giving Back. We want the garden to spark meaningful conversations about the challenges, barriers, and misconceptions that people with Down’s syndrome face, so that they can achieve in life what matters most to them. Duncan and Nick have captured the spirit of people with Down’s syndrome brilliantly in their garden design while not shying away from the uncomfortable truth that people with Down’s syndrome, like so many disabled people, still face prejudice and discrimination and that needs to stop.”
Excitement is growing among members of the Down’s Syndrome Scotland community about their garden, with many volunteering and participating in activities relating to the design and preparing for its permanent relocation to North Lanarkshire. Last month, the designers Nick Burton and Duncan Hall joined forces with young adults with Down’s syndrome from Down’s Syndrome Scotland to plant the first bulbs for their prestigious Show Garden.
The Camassia leichtlinii 'Caerulea' and Lilium martagon bulbs will appear in a colourful, playful area of the show garden’s planting scheme and will grow into tall-stemmed plants with lavender-blue and creamy-white, star-shaped flowers.
“The bulbs we planted will be cared for leading up to the show by members of Down’s Syndrome Scotland at our relocation site and is a great example of the authenticity of this fabulous project. We’re hoping these bulbs will nearly be in full flower just in time for RHS Chelsea, and we look forward to returning them to Scotland so they can be enjoyed and thrive for years to come at the garden’s permanent home,” said Designer Nick Burton.
Down’s Syndrome Scotland staff member, Cher Collins, who has Down’s syndrome, says, “I am so excited that we are being given this opportunity, I can’t stop smiling when we talk about the garden.”
A meandering path leads visitors through two distinct planting areas that convey contrasting moods: one of calmness and the other of playfulness.
Down’s syndrome is caused by a third copy of chromosome 21 and these numbers are subtly reflected within the garden. For example, there are three water features and three seating areas, including bespoke benches made by traditional craftsman Laurence McIntosh from Edinburgh with three feet and 21 slats.
Additionally, 21 tiles by ceramic artist Frances Priest and a playful water feature evoke a sense of fun and mischief, whilst a bunting display of 21 odd, knitted socks, chosen because they look like chromosomes, will be hung inside the garden building to celebrate difference and provide a sense of fun.
There will be three water features: two above-ground water containers, made by Bronzino, based on a Scottish Highland cauldron design, whilst a ground-level pool is located across the path symbolising societal barriers faced by people with Down’s syndrome.
There is also a secret water spray that can be activated by depressing a decoratively patterned ceramic tile to incorporate some fun and mischief into the garden.
The ground-level water pool with a submerged bridge located on the main path subtly references the barriers often faced by members of the Down’s syndrome community and speaks to their resilience and determination to overcome challenges to achieve their full potential. A Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), a Gaelic symbol of durability, will sit on the other side of the water pool.
Old School Fabrication, based in East Lothian, has been commissioned to design, fabricate, and construct an organically-shaped garden building made from locally sourced sustainable timber. The shape and material of the garden structure are designed to feel like a comforting hug and reflect the compassion, kindness, and joy that come naturally to so many people with Down’s syndrome.
Sited under the pine tree, one of the bespoke benches will be engraved with the old Gaelic proverb "Cruaidh mar am fraoch, buan mar an giuthas” which translates to “Hard as the Heather, Lasting as the Pine”. This proverb acknowledges the strength, resilience, and endurance that people with Down’s syndrome display in their everyday environments.
The plant-dominated garden incorporates minimal hard landscaping, sustainable construction methods (e.g. screw foundations and cement-free mortar) while plants will be grown in peat-free compost.
Consisting of around 2,500 plants the garden planting is split into two styles: a greener, calmer zone adjacent to the garden building representing a sensitive and calm space, and a more colourful and playful zone behind the bench which will include a variety of structural, green and colourful herbaceous plants representing fun, discovery, and joy. Some of the plants include:
After being showcased at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2025, the garden will be transported to its permanent home and managed in partnership at Watch US Grow, which is based in Palacerigg Country Park, North Lanarkshire.
Watch US Grow is a charity dedicated to making positive changes in the lives of adults with additional support needs, by creating educational and purposeful opportunities for people to learn new skills, gain life experience, and be part of an organisation where they are treated equally.
A number of people with Down’s syndrome attend Watch US Grow and will be actively involved in the reconstruction of the garden at Palacerigg. The garden is expected to be open to the public in Autumn 2025/Spring 2026 and Scotland Grows will bring you all the pictures of the garden from RHS Chelsea in May 2025.
Follow the Garden’s Journey online:
Instagram @dssscotland Facebook @Downs Syndrome Scotland LinkedIn @Downs Syndrome Scotland YouTube @DSScotland
Instagram @burtonhallgardendesign
If you would like to see your garden featured in a future edition of Scotland Grows magazine, please do get in touch to mail@scotlandgrowsmagazine.com - we would love to hear from you!
