Exbury Gardens to display RHS Chelsea Flower Show award-winning garden as Beaulieu’s Fairweather’s nursery wins top gong

A NEW Forest attraction will display an award-winning garden from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, where a local nursery also triumphed.

Exbury Gardens has taken on a sanctuary garden for those living with rare dementia conditions and their carers, which won three top gongs at the prestigious event.

Meanwhile, family business Fairweather’s Wholesale Plant Nursery in Beaulieu claimed the sought-after plant of the year title with an Agapanthus BlackJack.

The National Brain Appeal’s Rare Space garden was designed by Charlie Hawkes and funded by Project Giving Back.

It won a gold medal, best sanctuary garden and a best construction award.

People living with rare forms of dementia, particularly visual and spacial forms, are those it is aimed at benefiting.

The National Brain Appeal is raising an estimated £7m needed to build the world’s first Rare Dementia Support Centre in London, which will host it.

Before that planned opening in 2024/25, Exbury will temporarily display the garden to raise awareness of the life-changing neurological conditions.

Set to be transported once the flower show had ended, it will be planted with help from Exbury’s team of gardeners opposite the Five Arrows Gallery.

It will open from 25th June, with interpretation boards explaining how those with rare dementias and their families can seek support.

Marcus Agius, who chairs Exbury Gardens and the rare dementia support centre development committee, said: “I know our visitors will be intrigued and enchanted to see this garden.

“Apart from admiring its beauty, they will be interested to learn how it has been designed to comfort people with rare dementias.

“Perhaps they will also take away some ideas for their own gardens: how to use certain plants and design to create a sense of calm and well-being.”

The garden includes subtly coloured planting chosen to minimise sensory disruption and has a level, wide weaving path with brightly coloured, easily found seating areas and sheltered spaces for independent wayfinding.

Charlie said: “The reaction from the public at Chelsea has been amazing and I hope visitors to Exbury will like it as well.”

Once opened, the Rare Dementia Support Centre will provide guidance, assistance and education, as well as being a space for research, artistic and cultural activities.

Fairweather’s, at Hilltop Nurseries, is celebrating its win with Agapanthus BlackJack, which boasts big flower heads, black buds and black-purple striped blooms.

Bred in South Africa, by de Wet Breeders, its potential was noticed by nursery owner Patrick Fairweather on a visit more than five years ago.

Having evaluated the plant in Beaulieu to ensure it performs well in UK conditions, Fairweather’s anticipates sales of 80,000 throughout Europe in 2024.

It won after being shortlisted with 18 other varieties, including another introduction by Fairweather’s, Tradescantia ‘Brainstorm’.

Delighted by the win, Patrick said: “The phone has not stopped ringing and we now wish we had more stock to sell.

“Chelsea Flower Show is considered the most prestigious in the world, so this has firmly put us on the world map.”

Those wishing to learn more about BlackJack and how it and other Agapanthus plants are grown at Fairweather’s can visit its Agapanthus Festival from Saturday 22nd to Sunday 30th July.

Patrick will be giving a bookable talk on 22nd July in Beaulieu Village Hall.