Member Article

Award-winning Liverpool gardener stars at prestigious flower show

Award-winning Liverpool garden designer Peter Lloyd has created a unique garden based on mindfulness for RHS Flower Show Tatton Park this summer.

Peter’s impressive design, called Breathe Easy, is a space for relaxation, retuning and meditating. As mindfulness and meditation both focus on breathing, two large flower beds have been designed in the shape of lungs. The central passage between the beds is sunken from street level. One ‘lung’ contains naturalistic planting including perennials and grasses while the other contains edibles and herbs. These raised beds offer spaces for visitors to sit, harvest produce and maintain the garden.

Peter has combined pinks, purples and violets to create a harmonious feel to the garden. The boundaries, raised beds and edging materials are reclaimed timber sleepers. Socially distanced seating is provided to assist in mindfulness practice.

A sculpture provides a focal point in the naturalistic bed. It has been constructed by ‘Piece by Piece’, a collaborative pilot in partnership with The Stroke Association. The sculpture was put together by stroke survivors in Merseyside through art-based activities, using the art of mosaics as a therapy tool to benefit physical and cognitive development and repair.

Liverpool landscape company Mustard Seed will support Peter in building the show garden. All the show gardens will be viewed by the judges who will then select the winners of the gold, silver-gilt, silver and bronze awards.

In 2019 Peter was awarded a gold medal for the show garden he designed and exhibited at Southport Flower Show. The garden aimed to raise awareness of Pulmonary Fibrosis, a debilitating and fatal lung disease.

Commenting on his latest show garden, Peter Lloyd said: “It is a huge honour and privilege to showcase my work at Tatton Park and to design a garden that aims to improve mental wellbeing and overall quality of life.”

“The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the importance of quality outdoor spaces which are essential to people’s physical and mental wellbeing. The garden aims to provide an area for communities to retune and destress from everyday life, giving them an opportunity to practice mindfulness, for them to feel healed and in a good state of health and wellbeing. The garden is also intended for those affected by illness so that they can easily access the garden and enjoy the space and be fulfilled.”

Peter began his career in architectural design and still works as a historical buildings consultant. One of his recent projects was to advise the Manchester Jewish Museum on a conservation management plan that resulted in a £2.9m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to redevelopment the museum.

Peter was inspired to become a garden designer by his Dad and Grandad and their love of gardening. He graduated in Architectural Technology from Northumbria University 13 years ago. Peter’s ‘down to earth’ gardening and plantsman skills have been honed over many years and ever since he discovered his love and enthusiasm for creating and cultivating gardens, he has spent a great deal of time increasing his horticultural knowledge. He specialises in designing sensory gardens for enjoyment, fulfilment and wellness and has a diverse range of clients in the residential, commercial and professional sectors.

North West accountancy firm Mitchell Charlesworth provides Peter with a range of financial and business support services.

Paul Durrance, partner at Mitchell Charlesworth said: “Peter Lloyd is an innovative and successful garden designer who Mitchell Charlesworth supports with accounts, corporate tax, personal tax, payroll, forecasting and financial management advice. We wish him the best of luck at Tatton Park.”

Once the flower show is over, there are plans to relocate the show garden in its entirety to a Liverpool-based organisation for the benefit of the local community.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anne Griffiths .