Made in Chelsea, but heading for National Forest home

A stunning garden that was displayed at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show will be rehomed in Leicestershire.

The Meta Garden: Growing the Future, which is the work of Joe Perkin, was seen by thousands of people at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show.

With the aim of highlighting how trees can combat climate change, the garden aims to connect people to nature in new ways.

Thousands will be able to do just that without going all the way down to London when Conkers Discovery Centre in Moira claims the garden and moves it to Leicestershire.

The tourist attraction, at the heart of the National Forest, will take the garden from the RHS later this year.

An immersive centrepiece, The Meta Garden features a complex pavilion structure that represents the mycelium networks that connect and support woodland life.

The garden also comes with a central seating area sunken within the environment rather than imposed above it.

It is all part of efforts to raise awareness of climate change and create a greener future for everyone.

Steve Hatch, vice president of Meta (formerly Facebook) in Northern Europe, said: “The (garden) champions nature-based solutions to climate change and shows how we can protect our wonderful British woodlands.

“We’ve seen a boom in enthusiastic plant-lovers across the UK during the pandemic.

“Individuals and communities coming together on places like Facebook groups and Instagram to share their tips, get inspired, and educate themselves on how we can all learn from nature to make more sustainable decisions for our planet.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with the National Forest to rehome the garden so that millions of people can enjoy it for years to come.”

The Meta Garden’s rehoming is a rare opportunity for the National Forest to take on.

The garden will be used to help support the region’s economy, hoping it provides a boost to North West Leicestershire and beyond.

There will also be a new outdoor learning space adjacent to the garden to tie in with the ambition of providing outdoor learning to every child in the National Forest area, whether they are of pre-school, primary or secondary school age.