The Garden Builders were commissioned to carry out the design of Thomas Hoblyn at The Chelsea Flower Show 2021.

Thomas was sponsored by Boodles and designed a magnificent Secret Garden.

I created The Boodles Secret Garden, inspired by the well-loved children’s story by Frances Hodgson- Burnett: a contemporary interpretation of the journey into an enchanted, life changing sanctuary of a secret garden.

Thomas Hoblyn

Secret Enchanted Garden Design

From the naturalistic planting in the outer beds of Hydrangea paniculata, Rhus typhina, Miscanthus sinensis and spires of Verbena hastata, you are drawn from a palette of muted greens and creams through a high, intricately carved, louvred oak wall into an enchanted, secret garden brimming with jewel like plants. Dahlia campanulata and Fuchsia magellanica var. molinae, introduced beautiful, droplet structures and soft pink into the exotic planting, and altogether a more defined area.

The Secret Garden was encased by a combination of Taxus baccata hedging and an oak louvre wall created by renowned contemporary furniture maker Jan Hendzel Studio from sustainably sourced oak, found within five miles of Chelsea. The Limestone of the Secret Garden created smooth base with sawn chunky treads with a textured finished fascia.

Polished concrete walls give a striking contrasting colour for the variety of luscious green plants to stand out. The planting was carefully designed to not only bring an assortment of interest but to be shade tolerant too.

Photography by Fergus Coyle.