Eden Project Gardening Talent Shines at ‘Chelsea of the South West’

Published On: 7 April 2025Last Updated: 7 April 2025By CornishStuff

📷 Arial shot of Eden Project horticultural apprentices and Catherine Cutler in the Apothecary Garden

Apprentices and students wow visitors with powerful show garden creations

Thousands of visitors to this year’s Cornwall Garden Society Spring Flower Show were treated to a feast of colour, creativity and meaning as Eden Project apprentices and students unveiled two powerful show gardens designed around the theme ‘A Place to Heal’.

Eden’s Apothecary: A Victorian Sanctuary with a Message for Today

For Eden’s first-year horticultural apprentices, the event marked their debut in the world of show garden design — and they didn’t hold back.

Their garden, ‘Eden’s Apothecary’, offered a striking nod to the therapeutic and pharmaceutical power of plants, combining Victorian apothecary styling with modern environmental concerns.

The immersive space highlighted a fusion of ancient folkloric traditions and modern science, placing sustainability at its core. Much of the garden was made using repurposed materials from the Eden Project itself, while many of the plants were grown locally at Eden’s Growing Point plant nursery.

Among the most eye-catching specimens were Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea), historically used in remedies before being refined into treatments for heart conditions, and Lobelia cardinalis, a toxic plant with emerging potential for tackling addiction and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.

The apprentices used the space to educate visitors about how plants have supported human wellbeing for centuries — and how global biodiversity loss now threatens that legacy. The garden encouraged people to think about soil health and regenerative gardening as tools to protect our natural medicine cabinet.

Following its success at the show, the plants from Eden’s Apothecary will now form part of a new pharmaceuticals exhibit at the Eden Project, expected to open in 2026.

Catherine Cutler, the Eden Project’s head of horticulture, said:

“We are incredibly proud of our apprentices for demonstrating their creativity, passion and skill with such a fantastic show garden. It’s been so wonderful watching it all come together.”

“Visitors to the Spring Flower Show have clearly enjoyed exploring the unique space the garden provided and we hope they have been able to take some of its important messaging home with them.”

📷Eden Project horticultural apprentices in the Apothecary Garden

‘Echoes of Tranquillity’: Where Calm Takes Root

The second show garden came from first-year Garden and Landscape Design students studying with Cornwall College University Centre at the Eden Project.

Their creation, ‘Echoes of Tranquillity’, drew on Japanese garden design to create a peaceful space for reflection and renewal. Featuring a dry riverbed, water features and carefully layered planting in soothing shades of green, the garden invited visitors to slow down and reconnect with the present moment.

The students used a blend of traditional and digital techniques, including modelling software, technical drawing, and Photoshop rendering, to design the garden and bring their vision to life.

Toria Glover, Programme Manager for the HNC/HND Garden and Landscape Design, said:

“It’s been a real pleasure to watch the students venture into the creative world of garden design in a practical, realistic and local setting. And what a place to showcase what they have achieved in just one year of studying.”

“This is one of the many real-live projects we encourage our students to get involved with, which we believe not only supports their learning experience but also positively impacts the future of our local green spaces.”

Eden’s Green Credentials Continue to Grow

The Eden Project also scooped the Cornwall Garden Society Plantsman Award at the show for exciting new cultivars of Kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos), now on display in the Mediterranean Biome.

In addition, the Eden team were key contributors to the event’s Sustainability Hub, where visitors could buy plants grown at the Growing Point nursery.

Learning opportunities at the Eden Project are offered in partnership with Cornwall College and Truro and Penwith College, giving students the chance to gain nationally recognised qualifications while working in one of the most unique settings in the UK.

For more information about studying at the Eden Project, visit www.edenproject.com.