RHS Tatton Park Flower Show exhibit champions Rochdale’s community gardeners

RHS Tatton Park Flower Show, local volunteers view part of Groundworks Urban Oasis garden

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A show garden at this year’s RHS Tatton Park Flower Show designed by RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winner Chris Beardshaw has demonstrated how under-used pockets of land on Rochdale’s streets can be transformed to give a place meaning for those who live there.

The show garden, called Urban Oasis, has been devised by Groundwork and the Royal Horticultural Society and showcases how community gardening and good design can transform bleak grey cityscapes. Sponsored by Marks & Spencer, the exhibit will be on show at the event, which runs from July 18 - 22.

Urban Oasis looks at ways of improving the space between streets of Victorian terraced housing with back alleys, often used simply as a place for bins or hanging out washing, can – when gated at each end – have a massive potential for green fingered residents to create community gardens. What was once a dull space soon becomes a haven where children can play safely and gardening clubs are established.

Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale has been working with residents in Falinge and staff from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing to develop a community garden on Lower Falinge. The site now includes planters for food growing, willow tunnels and habitat homes.

Chris Beardshaw, who visited a number of Groundwork community green space projects across the north west earlier this year, said: “The green space around us – where we live and work – has a fundamental effect on our emotions and behaviour. It is well documented that in areas where these spaces are neglected and poorly designed we see strong evidence of social unrest and it is easy to see why when you stand in these spaces yourself.`

“Whatever the green need there is a solution and contrary to popular belief it doesn’t have to mean high cost – the Urban Oasis Gardens showcase design solutions which can make such a difference in people's lives.”

The RHS Tatton Park Urban Oasis is the last in a series of show gardens by Groundwork and the RHS to showcase some of the most challenging urban environments where gardening, community work and good quality landscape design have brought people together and yielded powerful social benefits. It also marks the first time the RHS has worked with a partner to bring an exhibit to every RHS show this season, a fitting tribute to celebrate Groundwork’s 30th birthday.

The RHS organises Britain’s biggest community horticulture movement through its Britain in Bloom and It’s Your Neighbourhood campaigns, which bring together 200,000 volunteers to make places greener and transform community life.

Groundwork has three decades of experience of working directly with disadvantaged communities to clean up and green up where they live. The charity works with community groups, housing associations and local authorities to improve green spaces.