Foliage, flowers and famous faces at RHS Chelsea

Whether the style is formal or flamboyant, we love our gardens, and there's nowhere better than the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to find inspiration. Kate Fleming visited and found herself in very distinguished company. Photos by Amy Rowlinson

Whether the style is formal or flamboyant, we love our gardens, and there’s nowhere better than the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to find inspiration. Kate Fleming visited and found herself in very distinguished company. Photos by Amy Rowlinson

The Plankbridge Shepherd’s Hut (Artisan Garden)

Award: Silver

Designers: Adam Woolcott and Jonathan Swift

This tranquil wildflower garden takes its inspiration from the Dorset countryside immortalised by Thomas Hardy in Far from the Madding Crowd. Central to the garden was a scaled-down version of an authentic Dorset shepherd’s hut, similar to that used by Gabriel Oak in Hardy’s novel.

Designed as a writer’s retreat, author Tracy Chevalier (Girl with a Pearl Earring), visited Plankbridge, the makers of the hut in Piddlehinton, during its preparation for Chelsea.

Tracy said: “I love the shepherd’s hut. Having a portable room of my own like that would be very inspiring, and helpful to get me away from the rest of my life. Sadly my garden in Dorset is too small for one, but you can always dream.”