Rochdale-based homelessness charity to showcase garden at RHS Tatton Park 2022

Petrus is creating a new exhibition for RHS Tatton Park 2022

Rochdale-based homelessness charity, Petrus Community, is heading back to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Flower Show Tatton Park for the third year.

Following award-winning gardens in 2019 and 2021, Petrus is creating a new exhibition for RHS Tatton Park 2022, where they hope to score gold with the judges and receive their third People’s Choice Award. 

As in previous years, the Petrus garden will be designed and built by staff, volunteers and service users, and they have truly excelled themselves with this year’s creation. The theme for 2022 is Greener Front Gardens – Petrus have taken this concept and have created something around the idea that, to have a front garden, you must also have a home.

Entitled Journey Home, their garden reflects the journey of service users, from sleeping rough or sofa surfing to having a place to call their own. It encompasses the support that Petrus provides and features winding paths, with keys sourced by a service user with a passion for magnet fishing. 

The garden also touches the health and wellbeing benefits of gardening and the environmental impacts we can make. 

Rachael Bennion, Petrus Service Manager, said: “Our volunteers, service users and staff and so excited to be going to RHS Tatton Park for the third time. It’s an incredible experience for us all, where we can show the amazing things we can do when we work together and support each other.

“Our garden is created by our brilliant volunteers and service users and they are rightly proud of the amazing spaces they produce. It’s a real team effort and to show our skills at something like RHS Tatton Park is amazing.” 

Martin is one of the service users and is part of the Tatton Team. He said: "I was really lucky to speak to the French press last year, and I hope that speaking to the international press will raise the profile of what homeless people can achieve, and maybe inspire them to do something like Tatton too. I’d also like to speak to other gardeners and how they grow their produce and learn some new tips."

To support Petrus on their journey to Tatton Park, please visit www.petrus.org.uk/donate