Burton Hall Garden Design win the RHS People’s Choice Award for most favoured ‘Small Show Garden’ for their ‘Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden’ at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Nick Burton and Duncan Hall of Burton Hall Garden Design are delighted to have won the RHS People’s Choice Award in the ‘Small Show Garden’ category for their ‘Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden’ sponsored by Project Giving Back at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The Small Show Garden, designed for Scottish charity, Down’s Syndrome Scotland, is an immersive, semi-wooded space that celebrates and reflects the joyful, unique qualities that people with Down’s syndrome bring to society, whilst highlighting some of the daily challenges and barriers they face. 

Competing against 9 other Small Show Gardens in the show, the garden, once relocated back to Scotland straight after the show, will offer the charity’s community an outdoor place to relax, reflect and connect. 

Duncan Hall, Co-Designer of Burton Hall Garden Design, said, 

“Nick and I are absolutely thrilled to have won the People’s Choice award for the Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden in the Small Show Garden category! It means so much that our garden resonated with the public, and it was really heartwarming to listen to the charity volunteers involved in meaningful discussions about Down’s syndrome. 

We would like to thank everyone involved in this project – from our wonderful sponsors Project Giving Back, everyone at Down’s Syndrome Scotland, our contractor, our artisan collaborators, our plant nurseries, planting volunteers, suppliers and our long-suffering family who have supported us on this journey.

And thank you to everyone who voted for us to crown us as winners of the RHS People’s Choice Award in our category! We are thrilled and just can’t believe it!!!”

Voting for the RHS People’s Choice Award began on Tuesday 20th May, with viewers on the BBC, visitors and the public beginning to cast their vote online for their favourite garden in each category on the RHS website, with voting closing at 8pm on Thursday 22nd May. Their category award win was announced by BBC presenter, Adam Frost, on the 7.30pm RHS Chelsea Flower Show on Friday 23rd May.

The ‘Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden’ has been made possible by sponsorship from Project Giving Back, a unique grant-making charity that supports cause-driven gardens at RHS Chelsea, ensuring their legacy continues by relocating them to community sites across the UK.  

After the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which closes tomorrow on Saturday 24th May, it will relocate to its permanent home at Watch US Grow in Palacerigg Country Park in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, so it can make long-term, positive changes to the lives of adults with additional support needs.