At a glance: A feature garden designed by Monty Don that celebrates how to easily turn our gardens into spaces for our four-legged friends to enjoy
For a man who seems so at ease inviting the viewing public into his Longmeadow garden via our television screens, creating a garden at Chelsea presents a different kind of exposure.
More used to commenting on the show, this year Monty Don is collaborating with the RHS and BBC Radio 2's Jo Wiley (a fellow passionate gardener and dog lover) to bring us the Dog Garden. Alongside his dogs of course: Ned has been enlisted to help with the design of the garden, by forging out the paths within it.
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Working together with Jamie Butterworth of Form Plants (whose own dogs are never far from his side), Monty's vision will be realised to create a beautiful space – proud to "wear its doggy heart on its doggy sleeve," as Jamie puts it.
The garden considers the needs of a dog – design cues include somewhere to shelter, to flop, some shade and water for wallowing. A deep border interwoven with subtly hidden meandering trails, uses grasses and flowers more resilient to wagging tails. Two intersecting narrow brick paths allow for more direct bounding to a central lawn - emphatically not pristine but weedy and worn in places – featuring an old apple tree.
The quintessential Chelsea show garden structure is transformed into a doghouse complete with comfy, worn sofa. A shallow stream animates the space and is perfect for cooling off, while trees such as field maple and hornbeam provide dappled shade and lend a familiar country garden appeal.
Jamie notes that the garden is 80 per cent planting, which reflects Monty’s encompassing love of plants and ensures an authentic, joyful experience for both dogs and their humans.
Key elements in the Dog Garden
- Cattle trough - an overflowing zinc trough serves as a water feature and an accessible dog bowl.
- Bejewelled flower meadow - tulips are randomly planted into long grass for a naturalised appeal – a technique Monty uses at Longmeadow with spent bulbs from a previous year’s display.
- Container displays - terracotta pots used in the garden have been crafted by Whichford Pottery and were designed by Monty with assistance from Ned.
Designer Monty Don with Jamie Butterworth Sponsor RHS and BBC Radio 2, Contractor Form Plants, Main suppliers Form Plants, Relocation Battersea Dogs & Cats Home