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An innovative show garden, project managed by ISG and designed by a senior horticultural tutor at HMP Everthorpe, was named Best in Show at the prestigious RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. The 'Save a Life, Drop the Knife' garden swept the board at the Cheshire show, also securing a gold award on its way to taking top honours at the annual event.
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The garden was developed as an initiative to raise awareness of knife crime and its consequences, as well as a rehabilitation exercise for inmates who gained valuable experience and skills working on the project. The forerunner to the Tatton show garden was actually constructed within the grounds of HMP Everthorpe in East Yorkshire. This garden secured a Prince's Trust regional award and reached the national finals in the competition, paving the way for a special invitation to display the concept at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park.
ISG's involvement in the show garden stems from a refurbishment project at HMP Everthorpe, undertaken as part of the contractor's wider construction framework with the Ministry of Justice. In addition to supporting the aims of the anti-knife campaign, ISG expressed a keen interest in helping take the 'Save a Life, Drop the Knife' garden to Tatton Park. Over the past eight months, ISG has taken an active project management role to ensure that the show garden was completed and ready for its public unveiling at the renowned horticultural show.
The judges were inspired by the overall concept of the garden, which uses symbolism to highlight the real consequences of knife crime. The winning design is effectively a garden with two distinct elements, at one end displaying the despair and criminality associated with knife crime, including the use of real knives confiscated by police and embedded in resin paving blocks, eye-catching wall art, and prison anti-climb spikes. At the other end, portraying life without the fear and intimidation posed by knife crime, featuring attractive planting schemes, thriving trees and a sculpture representing a family group.
ISG was instrumental in recommending the use of off-site manufactured solutions to reduce the installation time and environmental impact at Tatton Park and ensure a high quality finish. The garden walls, complete with artwork, were manufactured in East Yorkshire, transported to site and erected in half a day, whilst ISG also recycled waste materials from its project at HMP Everthorpe and re-used this within the build. The contractor's supply chain also donated expertise, materials and time to help bring the garden concept to fruition.
Craig Tatton, ISG's construction managing director, commented: "The attention to detail of the show garden is exceptional, from the impressive and symbolic water feature, to the deliberate planting of weeds within the paved area representing decay and deprivation. The initiative has been an extremely worthwhile cause for ISG to support and the level of attention that the garden has received at the show and in the media will undoubtedly prove beneficial in supporting the aims of this important campaign."
Contact Information
Nick Hann
ISG
Woodland House
Woodland Park
Bradford Road
Bradford
BD19 6BW
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