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Psalm 27 Garden, Young Designer of the Year Award 2023
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Psalm 27 Garden, Young Designer of the Year Award 2023
In 2023, Butler Landscapes was privileged to collaborate with emerging designer Ollie Pike on his Psalm 27 Garden at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show. This evocative garden, part of the prestigious RHS Young Designer of the Year competition, was awarded a Silver Medal and later relocated to Sheffield General Cemetery as a lasting public memorial.
Inspired by the themes of Psalm 27, ‘The Lord is my Light’, its message of protection, reflection, guidance, and courage is woven throughout the garden. Psalm 27 tells us to ‘Dwell in the house of the lord’. Ollie believes burial grounds are an important part of this, and he wanted this show garden to demonstrate how we should seek out these magical spaces and protect them like they do for us.
The garden featured a yew gateway, symbolising hope and immortality, a stone structure representing mortality, and pillars marking the journey through grief. Meadow planting with grasses and perennials created a calming, textural and moving atmosphere, encouraging contemplation and solace.
Burial grounds often hold some of our most ancient trees, declining wildflower meadows and rare native wildlife. There are over 20,000 burial grounds in England and Wales, creating a green connected network of spaces. They are places of reflection in times of grief, guiding us on to hope, and they are protective sanctuaries from our busy day-to-day lives in both rural and urban communities.
Over 80% of people visit a churchyard every year, showing how important they are to all communities.
Our team at Butler Landscapes meticulously brought Ollie’s vision to life, ensuring each element, from the structural features to the intricate planting, was executed with precision and care.