Durstons help Pocket Planting gardens secure medals at RHS Badminton
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Durstons at Badminton Flower Show
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The popular Pocket Planting category at Badminton
In a fantastic collaboration with emerging designers, Durston Garden Products Ltd donated more than 520 bags of peat-free growing media to gardens in the Pocket Planting category at the Badminton Flower Show, where first-time exhibitors proudly earned RHS accolades, including two Gold medals.
Somerset compost provider, Durstons began talks with garden designers back in May with a view to supporting a selection of small-format show gardens at RHS Badminton, helping to fulfil their growing media needs. Fast forward to the flower show this month and Durstons was delighted to have supplied nine of the 12 Pocket Planting gardens with as many as 523 bags of compost, soil conditioner, top soil and decorative bark.
The popular Pocket Planting category at Badminton serves as an entry point for emerging designers, offering practical experience, visibility, and a chance to build the confidence needed to progress to full‑scale RHS show gardens. Each small-scale show garden in this category occupies just 15sq m and is created on a relatively small budget.
Whilst successful applicants receive £1,000 funding from the RHS, they are are encouraged to seek further financial backing to fund their exhibit, with some designers bringing sponsors on board or even crowdfunding to reach their goal.
The theme this year was ‘The Space We Share’, with a variety of inspirational interpretations on show, including A Celebration of Compost & Community, designed by Simon Reeves, and Where Nature Navigates, which was designed by Alison Johnston and achieved not only an RHS Gold medal but was named Best Pocket Planting garden overall.
For visitors, these compact plots provide an early look at new voices in garden design and the ideas shaping the next wave of talent.
Durstons’ support proved instrumental, with all nine gardens that used the company’s growing media securing medals, including Silver, Silver-Gilt and Gold. The results underline the impact of reliable, peat‑free substrates in helping first‑time exhibitors deliver high‑quality planting and confident design in a challenging, small‑format setting.
Sales Director Dan Durston was delighted to have the opportunity to attend the show, meet the designers his family business had supported, and to see the finished gardens in all their glory. He described the experience as “genuinely moving”, particularly when visiting the Woodstock Homes Multiple Sclerosis Garden, created by designers Michael Leech and Gavin Moth. Exploring Gavin’s personal experience of living with MS, the garden demonstrates how a safe, restorative space can be created within a compact footprint. He said: “Sitting in that garden was a moment I won’t forget,” Dan said. “It was a powerful reminder of what thoughtful design can do and why it matters that companies like ours help new designers bring these ideas to life.”
Dan added: “We were absolutely thrilled to support the Pocket Planting designers this year. These gardens show what can be achieved with creativity, determination and the right materials. As a business, we believe strongly in supporting the next generation of horticulturalists and in making gardening accessible for everyone. The Pocket Planting category embodies that spirit – small spaces, big ideas, and opportunities for designers who are just starting out.”
In June, designers Michael Leech and Gavin Moth visited Durstons’ Somerset base on behalf of the Pocket Planting exhibitors to thank the team for their contribution and to get up close with the Durstons range. Speaking after the visit, which included a tour of Durstons’ existing site and the new Eclipse Works facility, Gavin said: “Durstons kindly donated a huge amount of growing media for us to use in our show gardens. They use only the best ingredients, sustainably sourced, to create a comprehensive range of products that can help every gardener. Thank you from us all.”
With strong results across the board and a clear appetite from designers for high‑quality peat‑free materials, Durstons say it hopes to continue supporting emerging talent at future RHS shows.
Find out more
Retailers interested in strengthening their peat-free offer and supporting gardeners through the transition can find out more about Durstons’ award-winning range and point-of-sale support at www.durstongardenproducts.co.uk or by calling 01458 442688.