Our RHS Chelsea Journey 2026. Focus On: A Garden for Every Parkinson’s Journey
This was a very personal garden for designer Arit Anderson whose sister has Parkinson's Disease. Arit, well known to BBC Gardeners' World viewers and a passionate advocate for inclusive and therapeutic garden design, brought her own lived experience to every aspect of this show garden.
About the Designer
Arit Anderson is a garden designer, broadcaster, and RHS ambassador whose work consistently champions accessibility, diversity, and the healing power of green spaces. Her connection to Parkinson's UK is deeply personal — her sister lives with the condition — and this garden was her opportunity to channel that experience into something meaningful and lasting.
A Co-Designed Garden
A Garden for Every Parkinson's Journey was co-designed with gardeners living with Parkinson's and their loved ones. This collaborative approach ensured the garden genuinely reflected the diverse experiences of those living with the condition — from early diagnosis through to more advanced stages — rather than presenting a single, simplified narrative.
Planting and Sensory Design
The planting used joyful colours and textures which reflected the varied symptoms of Parkinson's and aimed to provide comfort and stimulation during outpatient visits. Bold, tactile plants were chosen deliberately — offering sensory engagement for those whose sense of touch, sight, or movement may be affected by the condition.
Accessibility and the Water Rill
A wide, accessible path ran throughout the garden, ensuring it could be navigated comfortably by wheelchair users and those with mobility challenges. At its heart was a water rill — a quietly ingenious design feature that served both as a visual handrail and a powerful sensory tool. The sound and movement of water has been shown to help those experiencing freezing episodes — a common and distressing Parkinson's symptom — to unlock and move again.
A Sanctuary for Evening and Night
The garden was also designed to offer a safe, calming sanctuary during the evenings, with gentle lighting and comfortable seating. This was a thoughtful response to the insomnia that many people with Parkinson's experience — providing a restorative outdoor space that could be enjoyed beyond daylight hours.
Our Contribution
We were proud to grow a selection of perennials for this garden, including Amsonia 'Ice Blue', Bergenia ciliata, Epimedium x rubrum, Euphorbia seguieriana, Geranium x oxonianum 'Rebecca Moss', Iris 'Carnaby', Luzula sylvatica, Milium effusum 'Aureum', Polygonatum biflorum among others. It was a privilege to contribute to a garden with such a clear and compassionate purpose.
Awards
The garden was recognised with both the People's Choice Award and a Silver medal — a wonderful reflection of how deeply it resonated with visitors to the show.
Legacy
Sponsored by Project Giving Back, the garden's story does not end at Chelsea. Following the show, it will be relocated to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where it will continue to serve patients, carers, and staff — a lasting green legacy in a place where it is truly needed.
To see more photos from our journey at this year's RHS Chelsea view Instagram and search using the #hardysplantsrhschelsea26