Chelsea 2011: Cancer Research UK Garden

The Cancer Research UK Garden, designed by Robert Myers, won Silver Gilt, and had a lot of interest, especially in the interplay of textures, light and shade.

It was designed to evoke memories of living by the sea, so it starts with a pebble beach, with low-growing sea kale (Crambe maritima) and thrift (Armeria maritima), and moves up through denser, higher planting that you would find near the sea or in dry areas, including Agave, Marram grass (Ammophila arenaria), Echium pinninana (viper's bugloss) and some Chusan palm trees (Trachycarpus fortunei), which is hardy enough to survive in coastal areas.

At the end of the garden was a comfortable pavilion, with planting on the roof, including several hanging plants, such as Maidenhair vines and Jasmine.

There was a lot of hard landscaping, with stone steps, a dry stone wall, course-textured wood (using recycled timber) and narrow rills edged with metal.

Panels in the walls were inscribed with a poem.

The seating was more like a sculpture.