Sandy Felton finds out what’s ‘hot’ at this year’s RHS Tatton Park and finds some very entertaining gardens.

For me, the 2010 RHS Tatton Park Flower Show will be remembered for two things. The first is the exceptional quality of the Visionary Gardens category and the entertaining entries in the National Flower Bed Competition.

The second is Tony Heywood’s Gold medal winning 'Space Ritual' (pictured left).

Art and gardening certainly collide with this horticultural installation which brings together three distinct landscapes – Formby Beach (we loved the hidden red squirrel), the Jurassic Coast of Dorset and Tintagel in Cornwall. Three landscapes weaved together in a kind of  psychedelic vision which certainly stretch the bounds of gardening in a very exciting way. I can guarantee that ‘Space Ritual’ will be a big talking point at the Show this year and it is one garden certainly worth talking a walk around more than once to really appreciate everything that Tony has created in his three abstract and cartoon-like steel chambers.

I said earlier that this year the Visionary Gardens were the best I had ever seen and I totally agree with the judges choice of ‘Wave Dance’ (Gold) designed by John Everiss for Beeza Nursery as best in category (pictured left). Capturing the moment when a wave breaks on the shore, this is really a stunning design and certainly expresses innovation and creativity.

Another justly deserved Gold in this category goes to ‘A Matter of Time’ designed by Tony Smith, Derek Smith and John Humphreys. We are challenged to consider the enormity of time and space with a large circular crater – made up I believe with 12,000 lettuces - within which lays an alien! I loved it both for the simplicity of the planting and for the idea.

A new competition launched in September 2009, with the support of the Northwest Regional Development Agency,  challenged young people aged 28 and under to submit designs for a show garden at Tatton reflecting an aspect of the North West. The three finalists chosen produced superb gardens, one of which achieved the supreme accolade of Best in Show.

Hugo Bugg’s design “The Albert Dock Garden” (Gold) inspired by Liverpool’s Albert Dock (pictured left), is a worthy winner. Hugo’s early interest in architecture influences his Tatton design which can be viewed from all aspects. Hugo, who  is from Cornwall, studied Garden Design at University College, Falmouth. On graduation he was awarded Student Garden Designer of the Year by the Society of Garden Designers so he is no stranger to ‘accolades’. He describes his design approach as ‘young, fresh and dynamic’ and we can’t argue with him there.

A lovely garden which will delight visitors to this year’s show and is sure to mark him out as one of this country’s up and coming young designers.

Olivia Stewart and William Quarmby were the two other finalists who both produced stunning gardens. Olivia took her  inspiration from the Lake District and her garden ‘Clear Waters Rising’ was awarded Silver Gilt.  Olivia admits that she was both ecstatic and frightened at the same time when she learnt she had been chosen as one of the finalists. A graduate of the Oxford College of Garden Design, this is Olivia’s first Show Garden and will no doubt be followed by many other medal winning designs.

William’s chosen landscape was the West Pennine Moors -  a garden with contrasting planting and a variety of textures and heights which was also awarded a Silver-Gilt. William is a landscape gardener who wanted the opportunity to challenge himself and so entered for the competition. Another young designer with a first show garden to be proud of.

The medal awards on these three gardens is proof of the high standards achieved by these young designers who are to be congratulated

Best Garden in the Back-to-Back category goes to ‘Shower Time’ (Gold) designed by Matthew Hardcastle (pictured left) . Plenty of inspiration here for a garden suitable for guests at a boutique hotel and day spa complete with its own self-circulating shower and plunge pool.

Every year one of the highlights of Tatton is the Flower Bed Competition, where community groups, colleges and Parks & Gardens departments can compete against each other to stage a flower bed reflecting their own identity.

Plenty to entertain the visitors to the show here – Bucksburn in Bloom with their highland cow; Lancaster City Council and their Brief Encounter garden with the flower bed depicting the clock at Carnforth Station and Stoke-on-Trent City Council with their Centenary Celebration. This was definitely my favourite and I thought the sedum and succulent planted chair cushions just perfect. So I was delighted when Stoke-on-Trent City Council won the best in category and Gold.

Well done to all the Flower Bed competition entrants for providing such entertaining and colourful displays to brighten up even the blackest clouds that occasionally went over our heads on press day – not to mention the odd tropical downpour but we will not linger on that.

“Our Great Garden” (Bronze) – is a garden of two sides – illustrating how a garden of neglect and despair can be transformed into a well maintained and low maintenance social area. Designed by young people for young people, the New Charter Dream Scheme Group worked with youngsters on housing estates, not only helping them learn new skills but enabling them to positively be involved in their own garden scheme.

There was much excitement on press day around the ‘Growing Girls Growing Guiding’ garden (Bronze). The guides themselves had an input into the creation of their Tatton Centenary garden which incorporates symbols of girl guiding including an oak owl and trefoil seating area.

One of my favourite back-to-backs is ‘A Plant Hunter’s Retreat’ (Gold) designed by Harry’s Evening Stars. The garden pays tribute to Harry Delaney, RHS tutor at Reaseheath College who inspired his students to develop this garden celebrating plant hunters past and present.

Good to see Phillippa Probert (Outer Spaces) back again with her design for the  Envirolink Northwest Garden (Silver Gilt) a contemporary space which features modern garden design and low carbon products (pictured left). A fantastic colour scheme of purple and green creates a relaxing ambience - just perfect for an environmentally conscious young working couple.

Hopefully the weather will remain kind for the rest of the show week – Tatton 2011 is well worth the visit and who knows you might just find an alien sleeping in the lettuces!!