Reckless Gardener - Hadlow College at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

Hadlow College's CaCo3 garden was one of the show gardens awarded a medal at the 2006 Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. A very 'different' garden, it told an important story.

Report: Pat Crawford

Exhibiting at this year's Hampton Court Palace Flower Show represented a big decision for a college that, whilst enjoying a high profile, is relatively small. The college could have opted to exhibit a Courtyard Garden - but Hadlow never likes doing things by half or playing it safe - and elected to enter a large Show Garden, the only college to go for the big one.

The College selected Fern Alder and Heidi Harvey (pictured above), both of whom recently graduated from Hadlow with Honours degrees in garden design, to create the garden. The college's brief was specific: the garden had to represent two parallel stories. One story serves as a wake-up call - both stories prove that regeneration can be achieved in seemingly impossible situations.

The garden - name CaCo3, otherwise 'chalk' - exposed the serious threats posed to the chalk ridge that runs from Folkestone and forms the county's backbone through the famous White Cliffs and up to the Surrey border. The chalk Downlands are threatened by changes in agriculture, the building of huge numbers of new houses, the often-intrusive nature of the infrastructure serving the new-builds, more and more heavy traffic thundering its way through the county - and increased industrialisation. A grim picture - but there is hope.

The parallel story relates to Hadlow College. Little more than three years ago the college was a 'failing institution'. Once an elite establishment, it had serious problems and was on the verge of closure, at best amalgamation. The college's recovery makes education history. A magnificent turn-around to vibrant success makes Hadlow one of the UK's leading specialist colleges today. The striving continues and now the college is aiming to be the number-one land-based institution in the country.

Align the college's regeneration to nature's wonderful ability to survive - and thrive. CaCo3 depicts the transformation of former industrialised quarries into oases where wild flowers are regenerating and flourishing. A once beautiful landscape that had become bleak and barren is reviving. Wildflowers, among them some very rare species, are growing in abundance.

That the college and designers Fern and Heidi succeeded in telling the stories - and creating huge interest - there is no doubt. Designed to be viewed from multiple aspects, the garden appeared to have been carved directly from a chalk quarry. Angular pathways led to a pool, brilliant turquoise and characteristic in colour of the lakes and ponds that form after quarrying has taken place. Collectively known as 'calcicoles', a selection of lime-loving plants flanked the pathways. Around the margins of the turquoise pool, the unusual Polygonum scoparium and Diocromena colorata added interest.

A sloping grassy bank, planted with a multitude of wild flowers and herbs, formed grassland clearly representative of the Downland. Nectar-rich native plants created the bio-diversity for which the Downs are well known. Pyramid orchids were among the rare species proving that balances redress in the unlikeliest of places. Cherry trees, once so prolific in Kent and at last beginning to make a welcome comeback in the county's orchards, formed a backdrop to the entire garden. A high tech audio-visual system installed by SpaceFX threw images onto the 'chalk cliff' creating further links with the county of Kent and the song of Downland birds filled the garden.

Sourcing suitable turf for the garden had proved to be a nightmare. It had to be the authentic thing if the representative native plants were to survive. English Nature came up trumps and found a site where turf could be legitimately removed. Without this help the garden could not have been built. Daphne Eatwell, secretary of the Kent branch of the National Council for Conservation of Plants and Gardens (NCCPG), donated dozens of the Echium Pininana - a favourite with honeybees - growing in her garden. The plants - hundreds of them - were taken to the college to grow on in typical chalk conditions.

Hadlow's CaCo3 garden stirred the public's imagination and did what was intended. Described by Tim Richardson writing for The Telegraph as 'perhaps the most striking garden at the show', CaCo3 was eminently newsworthy and featured at length in BBC coverage of the show. Post-judging, two RHS judges commented that the garden represented 'a superb idea with a very imaginative and strong theme' that 'received a very impressive response from everyone at the RHS.' Yes - Hadlow College would have liked a gold medal - but is delighted with silver. If the only aim was a gold medal, creating such an unusual garden had to be hazardous. But Hadlow had no intention of playing it safe - the college likes to tackle things from a different angle and aimed to get some important messages across. In this it has succeeded.

Anyone who loves the Downs - but witnesses their shrinking and fears for their survival - can take heart from CaCo3. The Hadlow garden proves that nature is strong and can forge a renaissance in hitherto hostile environments. Likewise, the College's own story is proof that with hard, hard work, grim determination - and total focus - it's possible for a failing institution not only to be regenerated, but to climb way up the ladder of success.

Getting on for ten years ago Hadlow College introduced garden design courses up to degree level, the first land-based college to do so. The calibre of the department can be judged in line with the notable success of graduates. All are forging successful careers and several are well on the way to becoming household names.

Finally, Hadlow College has further reasons for celebration. No less than six Hadlow garden design graduates produced - or helped to produce - show, conceptual or courtyard gardens at the 2006 Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and a similar number of ex-horticulture students were working there in a variety of capacities.

Information about the range of Garden Design courses available at Hadlow College can be obtained by telephoning 0500 551434 or writing to: Hadlow College, Hadlow, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 OAU. Or log onto http://www.hadlow.ac.uk/courses/garden_design.htm

Banner top 'Towards the 22nd Century' - Show Garden designed by BA (Hons) Design Development Landscape and Interiors second year students - BBC Gardeners' World Live 2006)