About the project

The two elements we created for this project - the first of its kind to be commissioned by housebuilder Crest Nicholson - perfectly sum up why so many top designers come to us for help with their show gardens.

Garden designer Jason O’Donnell created a show garden for Macmillan Cancer Support at the 2018 Southport Flower Show. The garden celebrated Macmillan’s vital work, and reminded visitors of the importance of legacy gifts; it also had a particular personal meaning for Jason, whose father had died from cancer a few months earlier.

Jason’s design was based the concept of a giant storybook, tying in with the Show’s theme, ‘Once Upon a Time’. The garden comprised a series of dry stone walls, each representing a chapter in a cancer patient’s journey.

Jason commissioned us to create two ‘rhythm lines’ to run through the garden. The lines began as a single ribbon, then divided: we fabricated them in brass strap-bar sections, which were welded and polished to a seamless finish. Each ribbon was laser-cut in-house with symbols to mimic a heartbeat, and testimonials from Macmillan donors.

As an added complication, Jason wanted the Rhythm Lines to ‘float’ without physical support. We created a 3D isometric design in which the ribbons hit the co-ordinates of the ground anchoring points, then curled in smooth curves between them. Where the arches intersected, we joined them together, so they supported one another without additional bracing.

This was a complex project in a hard-to-work material, showcasing our in-house technology, design skills and ability to solve problems creatively and beautifully.

About the project

The two elements we created for this project - the first of its kind to be commissioned by housebuilder Crest Nicholson - perfectly sum up why so many top designers come to us for help with their show gardens.

Garden designer Jason O’Donnell created a show garden for Macmillan Cancer Support at the 2018 Southport Flower Show. The garden celebrated Macmillan’s vital work, and reminded visitors of the importance of legacy gifts; it also had a particular personal meaning for Jason, whose father had died from cancer a few months earlier.

Jason’s design was based the concept of a giant storybook, tying in with the Show’s theme, ‘Once Upon a Time’. The garden comprised a series of dry stone walls, each representing a chapter in a cancer patient’s journey.

Jason commissioned us to create two ‘rhythm lines’ to run through the garden. The lines began as a single ribbon, then divided: we fabricated them in brass strap-bar sections, which were welded and polished to a seamless finish. Each ribbon was laser-cut in-house with symbols to mimic a heartbeat, and testimonials from Macmillan donors.

As an added complication, Jason wanted the Rhythm Lines to ‘float’ without physical support. We created a 3D isometric design in which the ribbons hit the co-ordinates of the ground anchoring points, then curled in smooth curves between them. Where the arches intersected, we joined them together, so they supported one another without additional bracing.

This was a complex project in a hard-to-work material, showcasing our in-house technology, design skills and ability to solve problems creatively and beautifully.