Renowned gardener Nigel Dunnett set to reappear at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2025, showcasing an extraordinary sand dune garden.
Nigel Dunnett's Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025, sponsored by Hospitalfield Arts, is a distinctive design inspired by the sand dune landscape of Scotland’s east coast, specifically around Arbroath where the contemporary arts organisation is based.
The garden, which features a stylized representation of these dunes with dramatic topography, includes a central ‘artist bothy’ studio, offering a space designed to support creative practice, contemplation, and education. It is envisioned not only as a setting for art practice but also as a place where artists can engage with gardening themselves.
Innovative materials such as MEDITE TRICOYA EXTREME—a high-performance MDF panel—have been used for parts of the garden boundary and sculptural dune features. The panels are coated with an iron-filled stain to reflect the natural geology of the dunes, chosen for their durability and dimensional stability suitable for the exposed setting of the garden.
The Hospitalfield Arts Garden was well received at Chelsea, winning a Silver-gilt medal, reflecting its excellence in design and execution.
After the show, the garden will be relocated to Ladyloan Primary School in Arbroath, Angus, thus extending its legacy and continuing to serve as a space for inspiration and creativity in the community.
Nigel Dunnett, one of the world's leading voices on planting design, has designed this garden as an abstract and highly sculptural representation of the sand dune environment. This will be his second garden for Hospitalfield Arts, having previously designed the space's walled garden.
The Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show 2025 took place from 20 to 24 May, and tickets and information can be found online. This will be Nigel Dunnett's first return to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show since 2017.
The garden will spark conversations about changing gardening habits and the importance of creating space for the arts. It is a testament to the power of art and nature to inspire and educate, and a reminder of the potential for sustainable and innovative garden design.
| Aspect | Details | |---------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Designer | Nigel Dunnett | | Inspiration | Sand dunes of the east coast of Scotland near Arbroath | | Features | Dramatic topography, artist bothy studio, creative and contemplative garden space | | Materials | MEDITE TRICOYA EXTREME panels with iron-filled stain mimicking natural dune geology | | Awards | Silver-gilt medal at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 | | Relocation plan | To Ladyloan Primary School in Arbroath, Angus | | Sponsor | Hospitalfield Arts | | Funding | Project Giving Back | | Show date | 20 to 24 May 2025 | | Tickets and information | Available online | | Return to RHS Chelsea Flower Show | First return since 2017 |
- Nigel Dunnett's artistic garden, designed for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025, mirrors the sand dunes landscape of Scotland's east coast and incorporates a creative and contemplative space for both art practice and gardening.
- The sustainable and innovative design of the garden, featuring MEDITE TRICOYA EXTREME panels with iron-filled stains, won a Silver-gilt medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025, showcasing its excellence in both design and execution.
- After its successful debut at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Nigel Dunnett's garden will be relocated to Ladyloan Primary School in Arbroath, Angus, cementing its legacy as a home-and-garden space that continues to inspire and foster creativity within the community.
