The Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden
at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025
We are delighted to be designing The Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2025 for the amazing charity Down’s Syndrome Scotland. The garden has been designed to celebrate the unique qualities of people with Down’s syndrome. It also challenges the barriers and misconceptions they face on a daily basis. This incredible project has been possible by the amazingly generous sponsorship of Project Giving Back.
Inspiration & Concept
Duncan’s nephew Liam (pictured) has Down’s Syndrome and he and his family have been supported by Down’s Syndrome Scotland.
The garden aims both to celebrate the qualities of people with Down’s syndrome and highlight the barriers and misconceptions they face.
Various garden features will showcase fun and mischief while others explore empathy, compassion and sensitivity, all characteristics prevalent in people with Down’s syndrome.
We want visitors to leave the garden challenging the way society views Down’s syndrome and the garden will convey a strong message; if the unnecessary barriers people with Down’s Syndrome face were overcome then they would be able to reach their true potential, something that is very difficult today.
The garden will be an immersive, semi-wooded space celebrating and reflecting the unique qualities that people with Down's syndrome bring to society. A meandering path leads visitors through two distinct planting areas that convey contrasting moods: one of calmness and the other of playfulness. A water pool that initially appears to be a barrier to progress symbolises the daily challenges faced by people with Down’s syndrome who - despite huge progress in recent years - still experience stigma, often resulting in reduced opportunities and life expectancy. A submerged bridge within the water pool allows the ‘barrier’ to be overcome and visitors arrive at a welcoming shelter designed to look and feel like a warm and comforting ‘hug’. Down’s syndrome is caused by a third copy of the 21st chromosome, so the numbers 21 and 3 are subtly referenced throughout the garden.
Planting: The garden will be semi-wooded and consist of around 2,500 plants the garden planting is split into two styles – a greener, calmer zone adjacent to the garden building representing a sensitive and calm zone and a more colourful and playful zone which will include a variety of structural, green and colourful Herbaceous plants representing fun, discovery and joy. To include:
Betula nigra: Trees chosen to provide a light, wooded feel for the garden
Pinus sylvestris: A Gaelic symbol of durability and a metaphor for fulfilled potential
Iris sibirica (Tropic Nigh): Chosen to provide a contrasting upright form as well as showing colourful flowers
Primula florindae (Tibetan cowslip ): A bright, vibrant colourful plant, which expresses a sense of fun in the scheme
Arisaema candidissimum (Striped cobra lily): If growing conditions are favourable this Spring, this unusual and captivating plant will bloom white spathes throughout May with pink candy stripes inside
Garden Building: The building, created by Old School Fabrications, is an organically-shaped garden building made from locally sourced sustainable timber. The shape and material of the garden structure are designed to feel like a comforting ‘hug’ and reflect the compassion, empathy and sensitivity that come naturally to so many people with Down’s syndrome.
Water Pool: A ground level water pool is located on the main path through the garden to look like a barrier to progress. This is a misconception however and the water is very shallow and has a submerged bridge allowing progress to continue.
Scot’s Pine: A Scot’s Pine, a Gaelic symbol of durability, sits on the other side of the pool and represents fulfilled potential having overcome the barriers and misconceptions that are faced by those with Down’ syndrome.
Colourful Tiles: The 21 playful and curious tiles by ceramic artist Frances Priest are inlaid into the paving, contributing to the garden’s sense of joy as visitors enjoy the artful playfulness beneath their feet.
Benches: There are three seating areas within the garden. One is within the building and the other two are handcrafted benches created by Laurence McIntosh. Each bench is designed to have 21 radial slats with 3 front and back legs.
Gaelic Symbolism: One of the bespoke benches by Laurence McIntosh of Edinburgh will have the old Gaelic proverb "Cruaidh mar am fraoch, buan mar an giuthas” which translates to “Hard as the Heather, Lasting as the Pine” engraved on it and will sit under the Scots Pine. This proverb acknowledges the strength, resilience and endurance that people with Down’s syndrome display in their everyday environments.
Water Features: There will be three water features. As well as the ground level pool there will be two above-ground water containers, made by Bronzino, which are based on a Scottish Highland cauldron design. One of these will have a secret water spray that can be activated by standing on a nearby tile.
Collaborators
We are incredibly lucky to be working with our collaborators listed below:
Down’s Syndrome Scotland is an amazing charity supporting people with Down’s syndrome and their families as well as professionals working with the Down’s syndrome community.
Funded by Project Giving Back, the grant-giving charity that supports gardens for good causes at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Watch US Grow is a charity based in Palacerigg Country Park in North Lanarkshire, working with people with additional learning needs including Down’s syndrome. This is where the garden will be relocated following Chelsea and they will also be growing some bulbs for the Chelsea garden.
Kate Gould Gardens is our contractor at Chelsea. Keith Chapman, project manager, has vast experience of Chelsea.
Old School Fabrications have designed the garden building and will also be constructing it before installation at Chelsea.
Frances Priest is a ceramic artist who is making some beautifully designed colourful tiles that will be inlaid into the paving.
Laurence McIntosh is a specialist joinery and cabinet maker who are designing and crafting the benches in the garden.
Kelways is the nursery growing the majority of our plants. Kelways are hugely experienced in growing plants for Chelsea.
Deepdale Trees are providing the trees and shrubs for our garden. Deepdale are also regulars at Chelsea.
Kevock Garden Plants is a nursery in Scotland that will be providing a small number of specialist plants. Kevock also regularly showcase their plants at Chelsea.
