Nantwich garden designer helps create spaces for wellbeing

A garden designer from Nantwich has teamed up with landscapers to make green spaces aimed at improving people’s wellbeing.

Former Brine Leas student Carolyn Hardern has joined forces with landscaper Jon Jarvis and horticulturalist Alan Nugent to form a new not-for-profit group called “Constructing Minds with Nature”.

They volunteered to produce an award-winning show garden at RHS Tatton which was then gifted to Clatterbridge Hospital and used daily by staff, patients and visitors.

And more recently they created a temporary garden at Manchester Flower Festival for Melanoma UK so the charity could engage with the public to highlight the importance of skin protection.

Carolyn (pictured, second from left), who grew up in Aston and lives in Marbury, said: “Our aim is to extend the garden at Clatterbridge Hospital with a mini woodland walk and butterfly meadow and we still have last year’s show garden to relocate to The Harbour Mental Health Hospital.

“We also want to create smaller projects at hospital, schools and community groups who help to deliver green prescription.

“Studies show that a few minutes connecting with nature can lower stress and anxiety.”

The team held a fundraising event at The Old Piggery Café, Combermere to help raise money towards purchasing plants for further projects.

At the age of 40, Carolyn decided to retrain to learn Garden Design and went to study at Reaseheath College to learn Garden Design.

She said: “I started designing gardens for Belong whose HQ is Pepper House Nantwich.

“It was while I was overseeing the new care home garden at Belong Chester where I meet Jon Jarvis, landscaper and this was the start of things.”

They designed a show garden for RHS Tatton Show 2023 called “Constructing Minds” which was awarded RHS Best Show Garden and RHS Silver Gilt Medal.

Last year, they produced The 1804 Garden at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park will be relocated soon to The Harbour Mental Health Hospital.

Carolyn has also produced several show gardens in the past at RHS Tatton, Shrewsbury and Southport.