The Key

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Paul takes us on a tour of The Key.

Design inspiration

"The Key is a journey, not just through a garden but through life. Trying to tell the homeless story in a garden is tricky but I want you to travel through the garden's labyrinthine pathways and experience the highs and lows.

At the start we have claustrophobic settings, narrowing, uneven paths, dead ends and forbidding combinations of planting that like dark, living walls. I want you to feel that you are stuck in a difficult place, because that is what it is like to be homeless.

At the end of the garden is what appears to be a wall. In reality this barrier can be passed through, leading into a final section of the garden with a completely different atmosphere. Here, space and shelter can be found.

It's a place where you can work, relax and enjoy life; a place where you feel you belong and are proud to be - a proper living-space."

Your comments

Comments

Anonymous 2009-05-21

I'm not sure I can follow the message about homelessness, but I applaud the effort and, unlike many of the others, this does have the random appeal of a real garden. Pity about the tall columns.

Ian 2009-05-20

A wonderful, positive and uplifting project and a brilliant garden that speaks to all those who have experienced bad times as well as good. All who took part should be proud of themselves. Deserved a Gold in my opinion.

Anonymous 2009-05-20

I thought it was fun, intelligent and colourful when I visited yesterday. You really got the sense, too, that lots of people had played a part in it. I loved it - it was much better, as far as I was concerned, than all that rather formal clipped box and hard edges of the Telegraph garden.

Juliet, Cornwall 2009-05-20

I am surprised this garden got a silver award. I find it most depressing and it would certainly make me feel claustrophic.

Anonymous 2009-05-19

I really love this garden!