Burton Hall Garden Design win Silver Gilt medal for their ‘Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden’
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Down's Syndrome Scotland Garden designers win a Silver Gilt medal
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Down's Syndrome Scotland Garden designers win a Silver Gilt medal
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Chelsea newcomers, Nick Burton and Duncan Hall of Burton Hall Garden Design, celebrated today after being awarded an RHS Silver-gilt medal for their ‘Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden’ at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
The Show Garden, designed for Scottish charity, Down’s Syndrome Scotland, is an immersive, semi-wooded space that celebrates and reflects the joyful, unique qualities that people with Down's syndrome bring to society, whilst highlighting some of the daily challenges and barriers they face.
Offering the charity’s community an outdoor place to relax, reflect and connect, the designer’s created the ‘Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden’ to incorporate many nuanced references to the numbers 3 and 21 to represent the presence of a third copy of Chromosome 21, which causes the genetic condition of ‘Down’s syndrome’.
Nick Burton and Duncan Hall of Burton Hall Garden Design said, “We are over the moon to win our first Silver-Gilt medal at RHS Chelsea for our ‘Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden’, which has all been made possible by the generous funding provided by Project Giving Back. We hope visitors are drawn in by the garden’s lush, woodland planting, but also take a moment to look a little closer and see the deeper meaning and themes woven into its design. We hope our garden will allow people to reflect on the daily challenges faced by people with Down’s syndrome, so they can reconsider misconceptions about their abilities, and appreciate the many joyful, positive qualities they bring on a greater level to society.”
Visitors enter their immersive garden on a path made from Angus Sandstone - as they meander through the garden’s path, they enjoy two main areas of planting that each convey a contrasting mood – playfulness and a sense of calm. The garden path ends at the entrance of their garden’s feature ‘hug’ building, designed by Scottish artisans ‘Old School Fabrications’ designed to look and feel like a warm embrace. 21 decorative tiles, designed by ceramic artist Frances Priest, have also been seamlessly integrated into the paving at the entrance with a secret water spray, which is activated by pressing on one of the tiles, adding a sense of fun and mischief to the garden.
Inside ‘the hug’, visitors feel secure and reassured as they sit and relax amongst a cosy range of decorative cushions that the Down’s Syndrome Scotland community helped the designers create. A hanging bunting display of 21 uniquely knitted ‘stripey socks’, one of the emblems of Down’s Syndrome Scotland, due to their resemblance of chromosomes, and represents ‘celebrating difference’.
Edinburgh-based cabinet-makers, Laurence McIntosh, also contributed to the award-winning design by creating two curved timber benches. Made from solid European oak, each bench features 21 slats and 3 sets of legs – with one of the benches, positioned under the shade of the Scot’s Pine, featuring a hand-engraved Gaelic proverb, “Hard as the Heather, Lasting as the Pine” which the designers have chosen to symbolise the hope of fulfilled potential for people in the Down’s syndrome community.
The 'Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden' has been made possible by sponsorship from Project Giving Back, a unique grant-making charity that supports cause-driven gardens at RHS Chelsea, ensuring their legacy continues by relocating them to community sites across the UK.
The Show Garden can be seen this week at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show until Saturday 24th May 2025. After the show, it will relocate to its permanent home at Watch US Grow in Palacerigg Country Park in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, so it can make long-term, positive changes to the lives of adults with additional support needs