I designed the garden to tell the story of a young person’s journey, starting their own business with the aid of The Prince’s Trust Enterprise programme. My friends Mark and Glen, had help from The Prince’s Trust when they were setting up and running their own businesses.
The title for the garden was ‘The Bridge to Success’. The concept was of an overgrown pathway made of sandstone setts, running through rough grass, to symbolise the development of the young person, wishing to start their own business. The oak bridge over a ditch symbolizes a Prince’s Trust mentor, helping and guiding the young person across to the other side and along their journey, on the pathway as it meandered its way through limestone paving, bordered by flower beds packed with cottage garden style planting, made up of a collection of mainly perennials, annuals and a few shrubs. The path finally exited the paving though a pair of gate posts on to a neatly cut lawn. The complete cycle from rough grass to neatly cut lawn, represents the young person’s idea of a business in it’s infancy, as it develops and it’s success.
I used as many recycled, sustainably grown and produced materials as possible in the construction of the garden. For example many of the plants have been grown on our own nursery, the oak for the bridge is locally sourced and the fence, around the garden is made from recycled timber.