The RHS Tatton Park Flower Show celebrated its 25th year in July, with crowds travelling to the park to find inspiration and comradery from the gardening community.
Led by Regenda Group homelessness charity, Petrus, the Rochdale community united to deliver a feature garden for the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show.
Together with their volunteers and service users, Petrus has been creating gardens for the show since 2019. Their gardens have secured an impressive collection of medals and accolades including winning three consecutive People’s Choice Awards.
Returning to the show this year, they were invited by the RHS to produce the show’s only feature garden, the Ginnel Garden.
Their biggest garden yet, The Kaleidoscope Ginnel Garden was brought to life with the support of service users, volunteers and staff from Petrus, Falinge Park High School and charity Aspire to Inspire.
The Kaleidoscope Ginnel Garden is a shining example of the diverse friendships formed through community gardening. As well as being a celebration of the power of these friendships, it also challenged visitors see things from a different perspective by reflecting what people who have experienced homelessness, isolation, mental health issues and other complex social needs can achieve when they are empowered, trusted and believed in.
Rachael Bennion, lead garden designer and Petrus Service Lead said: “It was a real privilege to be asked to produce the Ginnel Garden for the RHS. For them to recognise the quality of our previous gardens and trust us with such an important role in the show was really validating for all our volunteers and service users.
We’ve always believed the show was a great opportunity for us to boost confidence and feelings of belonging for our community, and this was a perfect example of that.”
The garden was supported by group businesses M&Y Maintenance and Construction and Ecogee, as well as J Parker’s, Rochdale Rotary Club and Rochdale Borough Council.
Local business, J Parker’s, played an integral role in Petrus’ journey to the show. They raised almost £5,000 through a sponsored 13.5 mile walk, as well as donating flowers, fruit trees, planters and more to help the vision for the Ginnel to take shape.
The legacy of the Kaleidoscope Ginnel will live on in Rochdale now that the show has come to an end, with four pocket gardens created for the community to enjoy.
Petrus would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the garden and helped showcase the Rochdale Community at the show.
Find out more about their involvement in the show here.
