From Purbeck to Chelsea: Our Stone is Part of an Award-Winning RHS Gold Medal Garden – Again!
There’s something special about seeing natural stone become part of a landscape that inspires thousands of visitors. We’ve already touched on our history with the RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows, and this year, we were proud to supply large Purbeck Portland stone boulders from our Swanworth quarry in Worth Matravers, Dorset, for the award-winning Addleshaw Goddard: Flourish in the City garden.
Designed by Carey Design Studio, the garden has been awarded a prestigious Gold Medal, as well as winning the coveted ‘RHS Chelsea Small Garden of the Year’ award. “The garden celebrates the hidden gemstones of London – its gardens and pocket-sized oases that quietly stitch the city together, offering sanctuary, freedom and community amid the urban rush. Inspired by London’s status as the first National Park City, the garden blends natural forms and materials to reflect the city’s heritage.” Learn more here
Bringing Our Purbeck Portland Stone to Chelsea
For this project, our role was to supply substantial Purbeck Portland stone boulders with a sawn top, which can be found here, sourced directly from our Swanworth Quarry near Swanage, Dorset and known for its distinctive character, texture, and timeless appearance.
At Chelsea, the boulders became an integral part of the garden’s structure and atmosphere; inviting visitors to reconnect with nature in the heart of the city with the juxtaposition of stone and hard landscaping with carefully chosen planting.
The use of quarried British stone added authenticity and permanence to the design, complementing the garden’s themes of resilience, wellbeing, and connection to nature.
Image Credit: RHS.org.uk
From Quarry to Show Garden
Every piece of stone we supplied for Chelsea began its journey in Swanage, Dorset, where our quarry continues a long tradition of extracting and shaping Purbeck stone for landscaping and architectural projects across the UK. Each piece of stone is dug out carefully, in this case they were then hand-selected by Joe Carey based on the garden’s size requirements. With our own transport fleet, we then delivered the stone to Chelsea.
Projects like this one showcase the versatility of natural stone; whether used in private gardens, public landscapes, or internationally recognised show gardens.
To contribute to a Gold Medal-winning RHS Chelsea garden is something we are incredibly proud of and we’d like to congratulate Carey Design Studio and everyone involved in bringing the project to life.
Looking Ahead
As interest in sustainable, natural landscaping materials continues to grow, we’re excited to see British stone playing an increasingly important role in contemporary garden design.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show remains one of the world’s most influential horticultural events, and it’s rewarding to see Purbeck stone represented on such a prestigious stage.
If you wanted to explore using Purbeck Portland stone boulders in your garden and landscaping designs then don’t hesistate to get in touch with us on 01929 439 444
The award winning Carey Garden Design Studio is headed up by Norfolk-based husband and wife duo Joe & Laura Carey. With over 15 years of experience in Design, Innovation and Creativity, they apply their critical understanding of what makes something exceptional, to their love of gardens. Find out more by visiting their website:
