Wight in Bloom First Prize
Afton Park Garden has won First Prize at the 2007 Wight in Bloom competition.
Set within the orchard and meadow at Afton Park, the garden was designed and built by Chris from 2001 to 2006 and continues to flourish and attract the attention of major magazines like Country Living and Gardens Illustrated. The gardens occupy an open area which was originally a flat and windswept field. Chris created a series of garden 'rooms' by using hedging, fences and plants as boundaries. But she has also embraced the location by using plants that enjoy sunlight, are tolerant to drought and provide movement in the wind.
Island Garden Wins Gold Medal
Chris Barnes has won Gold for her 'Island Garden' at the 2005 New Forest Show.
The Island Garden was designed to represent the Isle of Wight with its walks
and trails and it featured an ornamental wildflower meadow and a seaside gravel
garden separated by a path and signposted 'The Freshwater way'. Chris was
aided by Island Daylily expert Jan Wyers with support from 'Green Island Coordinator'
Steve Blamire, Rural Ways and Wightlink. The Gold Medal is all the more surprising
as they had only two weeks to design, plan and build the 225 sq foot garden,
after an exhibitor was forced to pull out.
"I wanted to create a display where the boundaries between the garden
and the countryside are blurred," explained Chris. " There isn't
much hard landscaping as I like to let the plants do the talking."
The reaction to the garden at the show was very positive with many people
taking photographs. "I think people can relate to this garden and that
is why they like it so much." says Chris.