At a glance: Dark-hued roses and an elegant see-through pavilion create a sanctuary for women in prison designed by Jo Thompson
Chelsea veteran Jo Thompson wasn’t ever intending to do another garden at the show. But she had to reconsider when she got a call from Kali Hamerton-Stove of The Glasshouse, a social enterprise offering second chances through horticulture to women in prison. “I couldn’t say no because I know the amazing work that they do,” she says.
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Responding to the stories of women she met who have worked or are working with The Glasshouse programme, Jo kept returning to the concept of ‘strong beauty’ as a unifying theme. “When I first met the women what really hit me was the fact that I am where I am because of the opportunities I’ve been given,” she says.
“I was very much struck by this idea of strong women helping other women who haven’t had the opportunity to grow that strength.”
Her resulting immersive design blends richly coloured planting with a striking yet delicate architectural structure at the heart of the garden - an elliptical pavilion designed by Holloway Studio, which features louvre-like screens that pivot open and closed. They are crafted from a form of semi-translucent recycled acrylic, and are meant to offer both openness and a sense of privacy.
It’s about creating a space that’s more about nature than construction.
Water flows through the garden from a source in the top corner, meandering in an S-curve through a rill that narrows and widens, before entering a pool. This continuous movement of flowing water symbolises renewal and growth.
Jo’s planting is, as always, romantic, lush and immersive, with a predominance of deep-hued flowers in bold reds and burgundies, including roses ‘Charles de Mills’ and 'Tuscany Superb', and Astrantia ‘Burgundy Manor’, as well as accents of apricot, coral and peach, and texture from royal ferns. Larger woody plants include copper beech domes, euonymus and Betula nigra and Zelkova trees.
In fact, there are minimal hard materials beyond the pavilion and bespoke wooden benches by craftsman Johnny Woodford, as Jo was determined to maximise the ratio of planting to hardscape. “Initially, it was 75 per cent plants, but I’m pushing that even higher,” she says. “It’s about creating a space that’s more about nature than construction.”
3 Key features of the Glasshouse Garden
- See-through pavilion A semi-transparent, elliptical structure that offers seclusion without complete enclosure. It captures light dynamically, shifting in opacity and colour throughout the day.
- Curving rill This naturalistic stream with fluctuating width winds its way through the space before reaching a tranquil pool.
- Red roses Moving beyond traditional pink shades, Jo is using bold-coloured cultivars including ‘Tuscany Superb’ to chime with her theme of ‘strong beauty’.
Designer Jo Thompson Sponsor Project Giving Back for The Glasshouse Contractor Ryan Alexander Associates Plants Form Plants, Deepdale Trees, Hardys’ Cottage Garden Plants, How Green Nursery, David Austin Roses, Peter Beales Roses, Furniture Johnny Woodford Structure Holloway Studio Relocating to A women’s prison in southeast England