Summer finally arrived in mid-July for the 25th anniversary RHS Show at Tatton Park. There was a host of glorious gardens and visitors enjoyed the sights and sounds of our local show for the last time until 2027. And what a superb show it was.

There were 22 Long Borders and a host of medals for Cheshire, with A Gourd Time designed by Harry Dean and Over Allotments near Winsford winning gold. Taking its inspiration from a giant pumpkin grown on the allotment in 1990 it had a gorgeous colour palette of reds, oranges and yellows.

Frances Tophill interviewing the RHS Young Designer of the Year 2024 winner and Best Construction within the Young Designer category winner, Ashleigh Aylett, in her Woodland Trust 49% Garden. Frances Tophill interviewing the RHS Young Designer of the Year 2024 winner and Best Construction within the Young Designer category winner, Ashleigh Aylett, in her Woodland Trust 49% Garden. (Image: Kirsty Thompson)

Tatton is the only RHS show to feature a Young Designer Category, and this year we had two exceptional designers with two very different gardens. Designer Ashleigh Aylett from Bedfordshire teamed up with Evergreen Cheshire Ltd to create a garden called The Woodland Trust: 49% Garden, which painted a romantic picture but highlighted the serious loss of trees in the UK in the last 70 years. The garden won Best in Show for both Design and Build.

Callum Corrie from Mobberley won gold in the Young Designer category with Entertaining Meets Nature. Callum Corrie from Mobberley won gold in the Young Designer category with Entertaining Meets Nature. (Image: Neil Hepworth)

Callum Corrie from Mobberley also won gold in the Young Designer category with Entertaining Meets Nature. His design perfectly illustrated how a garden created to entertain family and friends can also be wildlife-friendly. Callum is a great talent and I’m sure he will have a very successful career ahead of him with two RHS Tatton gold medals now to his name.

Nadine Mansfield in her Better New Build Show Garden (with artist Sam Baguley in the background) which won silver gilt in the Career Change category. Nadine Mansfield in her Better New Build Show Garden (with artist Sam Baguley in the background) which won silver gilt in the Career Change category. (Image: Kirsty Thompson)

One of my favourite gardens on the day was in the Career Changer Category. Designer Nadine Mansfield from Poynton dedicated her garden to her good friend Marcie Incario who died earlier this year, and she also teamed up with talented artist Sam Baguley who created a painting live in the garden. Prints of the painting went on sale after the show via sambauleyart.com with all proceeds going to The Christie and Maggie’s charities.

Coronation Street actor Barbara Knox with a flower-covered umbrella designed by North and Flower of Macclesfield. .Coronation Street actor Barbara Knox with a flower-covered umbrella designed by North and Flower of Macclesfield. . (Image: Dominic Lipinski/RHS)

Sarah Poll, RHS head of shows development, said: 'Yet again, RHS Tatton Park has excited, provoked and inspired with some of the most innovative designs of the current generation of garden designers. We’ve got show veterans celebrated alongside career changers making their debut at an RHS show, and all of them have produced some absolutely show-stopping designs.

'RHS Tatton Park is fun, thoughtful and beautiful, and we would like to thank and congratulate everybody who has taken part. We hope they have enjoyed it as much as we have.'

Chris Reynolds was named the first RHS Career Changer of the Year and was also awarded gold in the category of Career Changers with his Safe Space Garden. Chris Reynolds was named the first RHS Career Changer of the Year and was also awarded gold in the category of Career Changers with his Safe Space Garden. (Image: Kirsty Thompson)

BEST IN SHOW

A former police officer who harnessed the power of horticulture to help support victims of crime has been named the first RHS Career Changer of the Year at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2024.

Chris Reynolds’s The Safe Space Garden was also awarded a gold medal in the category of Career Changers at the show. The category made its debut this year.

Ashleigh Aylett, who designed The Woodland Trust: 49% Garden highlighting the efforts made by the charity to address the loss of nearly half of Britain’s trees outside of woods, was named RHS Young Designer of the Year 2024. Her garden was also awarded Best Construction within the Young Designer category.

Of the Show Gardens, Ollie Pike picked up Best in Show and a gold medal for This Garden Isn’t Finished Without You, a celebration of the inclusivity of the garden’s sponsor, The Methodist Church.

Christine Leung’s Glean, a relaxing kitchen garden with sustainable food growing at its core, was awarded the Best Terrace Garden prize.

My Name’5 Doddie, by Pip Probert, which raises awareness of Motor Neurone Disease in memory of the late rugby player, was awarded the Best Construction of a Show Garden Award.

The Moongate Garden created by Bluebell Cottage Gardens in Warrington. The Moongate Garden created by Bluebell Cottage Gardens in Warrington. (Image: Neil Hepworth)

Cheshire Medal Winners

Floral Marquee

o Bluebell Cottage Gardens – gold

o Blue Diamond Garden Centres – gold

o Cheshire Bonsai Society – gold

o Chrysanthemums Direct – gold

o D & A Wright: Coleus – gold

o Plantagogo – Gold

o K&S Nurseries Ornamental Grasses – silver gilt

o Manor Farm Botanics – bronze

Kate Brophy and Maisie Leonard of Fryers, Knutsford, who won gold for their Italianate Garden display. Kate Brophy and Maisie Leonard of Fryers, Knutsford, who won gold for their Italianate Garden display. (Image: Kirsty Thompson)

Plant Village

o Petrichor Bulb Specialists – five flowers

Show Gardens

o My Name’5 Doddie Garden. Designer Pip Probert – silver gilt

o The 1804 Garden. Designer Carolyn Hardern and Jon Jarvis – silver

Career Changer Gardens

o The Better New Build Garden. Designer Nadine Mansfield – silver gilt

Ashleigh Slack, Faye Mower, Sarah Seabright and Emma McGeehan in their The Crowd Goes Wild garden, celebrating female representation in music. Ashleigh Slack, Faye Mower, Sarah Seabright and Emma McGeehan in their The Crowd Goes Wild garden, celebrating female representation in music. (Image: Kirsty Thompson)

Young Designer Gardens

o Entertaining Meets Nature Garden. Designer Callum Corrie – gold

Long Borders

o A Gourd Time Garden designed by Harry Dean and Over allotments – gold

o The Mid Cheshire Line Station Volunteer’s Garden – silver gilt

o Melanie Donovan – Inner City Garden – silver gilt

o Rachie’s Pretty Plants and Gardens: Away with Words – silver gilt

o A Listening Ear Garden designed by Lesley Groves, Natalie Meara and Tom Meara in support of Samaritans Mid Cheshire – silver

o Be Bold and Beautiful Garden designed by Samantha Stringer – silver

o The WOW Factor Garden designed by Alexander Wright – silver

o Growth Begins with Reflection Garden designed by Victoria Bettany, Eloise Wood, Sophie Wiseman – bronze

Sophie Godber in her The Big Picture Garden, which won a silver gilt in the Terrace Garden category. Sophie Godber in her The Big Picture Garden, which won a silver gilt in the Terrace Garden category. (Image: Kirsty Thompson)

Terrace Gardens

o The Orchid Garden. Tom Saunders, Skylark Garden Design – silver gilt

o The Corton Garden designed and built by Evergreen Cheshire – silver gilt

The Potting Shed talking all things potted. The Potting Shed talking all things potted. (Image: Kirsty Thompson)