Joy Baker

As we draw closer to the opening of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, it’s been a real privilege to work with both the @ladygardenfoundation and @thechildrenssociety to help bring their powerful garden stories to life for visitors and the press. @patrick_clarke_landscapes garden for The Children’s Society shines a vital light on the UK’s teenage mental health crisis. Through a theme of ‘beauty in imperfection’, reclaimed and repurposed materials aims to restore optimism and hope in young people.Patrick has also collaborated with young people from the charity, ensuring their voices are at the heart of this large show garden. Co-sponsored by @project.giving.back Meanwhile, @darrenhawkeslandscapes has created a truly show-stopping space for the Lady Garden Foundation by blending striking architectural forms with the most magnificent planting. At its centre, a cocooned sanctuary area invites visitors to pause, reflect, and engage in vital conversations around gynaecological cancers—helping to ‘break the silence’ and shift the dial on late diagnosis. See you at the show if you’re lucky enough to have a ticket - or catch coverage of these incredible gardens on BBC iPlayer from Sunday evening. Exciting week ahead!

Great to see these two bespoke kitchen projects designed by @gridthirteenluxurykitchens in @homesandgardensofficial feature on ‘Double Islands in Large Kitchens’. Speaking with writer @lindaclaytonwrites , Creative Director & Founder of Grid Thirteen Design Studio, Natalie Fry shares her perspective on why, in the right space, two islands can better than one in a large kitchen design space. She says, “A double island layout offers a more considered way of organising a large kitchen, rather than relying on a single, oversized island to carry each function. They also allow the space to be broken down into features that feel more manageable and intuitive to use. Double islands also has an impact on how the space flows. They are particularly effective in larger spaces as two islands often improve circulation, resulting in a space that feels less congested, and more comfortable when used by more than one person. With a clear rationale behind each island, the kitchen becomes easier to live and flow in and increasing function.” Read more about Natalie’s insight’s here - /kitchens/double-kitchen-islands Photo credit: @andyhaslamphotography for Grid Thirteen

It was a pleasure to attend @mrfothergillsidn first ‘The Seedling Story’ educational workshop last week with ‘Young Creative Partners’ from @thechildrenssociety offering some of the young people supported by the charity a hands-on introduction to the joy and wellbeing benefits of growing plants from seeds. The workshop formed part of an 18-month skill-based programme offered to The Children’s Society’s ‘Young Creative Partners’ who are young people the charity supports aged 14-20 from their Youth Clubs network in Central Bedfordshire. Their role as ‘Young Creative Partner’s’ has given them the opportunity to collaborate with garden designer @patrick_clarke_landscapes about design features in the charity’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show ‘The Children’s Society Garden’ - designed to shine a spotlight on the UK’s teenage wellbeing crisis - as well as taking part in a series of workshops with the garden’s artisans and gardening specialists at the charity’s Leighton Buzzard Youth Club. The Children’s Society Garden at @the_rhs Chelsea is co-sponsored by The Children’s Society and @project.giving.back Photos by @julieskeltonphoto

Art is a key form of self-expression for adults and young people alike. As part of the development for our RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden, young people turned their emotions and experiences into sketches and sculptures inspired by nature. Sculptor: @artistcunningham Garden designer: @patrick_clarke_landscapes Garden co-sponsor: @project_giving_back Photographer: @julieskeltonphoto PR: @baker_pr

During February half-term, a group of ‘Young Creative Partners’ aged between 14-20 years who are supported by @thechildrenssociety , took part in a workshop led by leading sculptor @artistcunningham who is creating a statement sculpture for @patrick_clarke_landscapes ‘The Children’s Society Garden’ at @the_rhs Chelsea Flower Show in May 2026.   The ‘Young Creative Partners’, who are members of the charity’s Youth Clubs network in Central Bedfordshire, have also had the opportunity in the past 18months to collaborate with ‘The Children’s Society Garden’ garden designer Patrick Clarke to ensure their voices were listened to throughout the design process.   Hosted at The Children’s Society Youth Club in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, Alice Cunningham’s ‘Forms of Growth’ themed workshop began by showing the group of young people visual inspirations from natural materials. Assisted by The Children’s Society staff and the charity garden designer, Patrick Clarke, they  began by encouraging the group of young people to sketch initial ideas inspired by how nature forms grow, adapt and shows resilience. Their artistic sketches were then developed into clay sculptures, with Alice providing one-to-one expertise to explore each original concept idea and showing them how they could turn their two-dimensional sketch into a sculptural form made from air dry clay.     Some of their finished sculpture objects are planned to be displayed within the finished RHS Chelsea ‘The Children’s Society Garden’, while others will inform and inspire Alice’s final artisan piece in the Show Garden that she will craft from reclaimed stone and clay that  reflects Patrick Clarke’s wabi-sabi design philosophy of celebrating ‘imperfect beauty’. ‘The Children’s Society Garden’ at RHS Chelsea is sponsored by @thechildrenssociety and @project.giving.back Photos by @julieskeltonphoto

Patrick Clarke, the designer of ‘The Children’s Society Garden’, which will showcase at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2026, has revealed an update on the resilient planting scheme that is being grown for the charity’s Main Avenue Show Garden.   Designed as a nurturing, restorative space, the garden aims to raise awareness of the growing UK mental health and wellbeing crisis facing teenagers. Its planting scheme featuring specific resilient plants  echoes the charity’s narrative of renewal and survival – and the support it offers young people across the UK to uncover their strength, build resilience, and move towards adulthood with confidence.  Each plant has been carefully selected by Patrick so it will have the space and conditions to grow, renew each season, and thrive in each of the three zoned areas of the garden: sunny, transitional, and shade.    For example, Patrick has commissioned micro-nursery grower Hannah Fox from @brightgreenfox to grow some of the special jewels of planting for the garden. One of these is Verbascum Arcturus, which Hannah is growing from seed and is hoped to grow to around 20cm with clusters of golden yellow flowers.   The resilient tree variety sourced from @deepdaletrees is Acer campestre, commonly known as the Field Maple. These trees will feature a bushy crown of lush, dark green, five-lobed leaves in May and reflect a species that is known for thriving in diverse conditions.   Other low-maintenance, resilient plants featuring in @thechildrenssociety Garden are being grown at specialist nursery @hortus_loci . These include the Iris ‘Kent Pride’ and Iris ‘Butter and Sugar’ that will rise on their tall stems elegantly in the well-drained zones of the garden. Patrick Clarke chose these Irises for their bold and soft tones that together symbolise balance and harmony - reflecting the qualities teenagers may draw upon when navigating life’s challenges. @patrick_clarke_landscapes ‘The Children’s Society Garden’ at @the_rhs Chelsea Flower Show is co-sponsored by @thechildrenssociety and @project.giving.back #gardensforgoodcauses #rhschelseaflowershow #childrenssociety

Thanks to Ellie McDonald at @thetimes for spreading awareness about the @ladygardenfoundation campaign to break the silence amongst both men and women about the five gynaecological cancers - vulva, ovarian, cervical, womb and vaginal - that sadly kill 21 women every day in the UK.    The article shares Rachel Lambert’s personal story about her diagnosis of stage 4 cervical cancer aged 45. Rachel was urgently referred to the @royalmarsdennhs for treatment after seeking medical advice from her GP about irregular bleeding. Rachel is now four years in remission and backs the Lady Garden Foundation’s campaign to remove stigma’s when it comes to talking about this type of cancer. Rachel says in The Times “There is a lot of stigma around talking about that part of your body, as well as one of the main causes of it being the HPV virus, which is sexually transmitted. If women do experience changes we must feel that we can speak freely about it. I know from talking with friends that they have been dismissed before being treated. Women need to say this is my body and I need people to listen to me. We have to listen to our instincts.” A key part of the Lady Garden Foundation’s awareness and prevention programme in 2026 to break the silence and stigma about gynecological cancers is the showcase of their Lady Garden Foundation ‘Silent No More’ Large Show Garden at @the_rhs Chelsea Flower Show in May 2026.   Designed but Gold-medal winner @darrenhawkeslandscapes his striking garden aims to ‘shatter the silence’ surrounding gynaecological cancers and is designed to shine a national spotlight on these 5 diseases by igniting open, honest and potentially life-saving conversations about each of them. Read the article at /uk/london/article/chelsea-flower-show-women-cancer-health-kpqv0v6rg

Meet our @the_rhs Chelsea Flower Show garden designer @patrick_clarke_landscapes     Our garden is co-sponsored by @project.giving.back  🌳   #GardensForGoodCauses  #ProjectGivingBack #ChelseaFlowerShow

Thanks to artist @hannahmhartwell for speaking on @tobybucklandgardens @bbcdevon radio show today about the 5 sculptures she is creating to represent each of the 5 gynecological cancers for the @the_rhs @ladygardenfoundation ‘Silent No More’ Garden designed by @darrenhawkeslandscapes Darren Hawkes is working in close collaboration with @hannahmhartwell to design four maquettes that will be finished in four different materials, including bronze, wood, alabaster and stoneware. Each striking sculpture will be positioned within the garden amongst the plants so that visitors will discover them one by one as they progress along its meandering path. Designer Darren Hawkes said, “The five sculptures designed in the Lady Garden Foundation ‘Silent No More’ RHS Chelsea Show Garden will be an artistic focal point in the Show Garden, which I hope will compel visitors to pause, look more closely, and engage on a deeper, more emotional level. Each of the sculptures highlights the simple fact that so many of us are unaware that there are five Gynaecological cancers, so by including five sculptures, they will rouse curiosity about their purpose and are a clear way of stirring these vital conversations. It was through our collaboration and research into cancer cell division that we began exploring the shapes and textures that would inform the sculpture design - ultimately inspiring a pebble-like form with unique anomalies in each.” We look forward to welcoming you @tobybucklandgardens to the RHS Chelsea Lady Garden Foundation ‘Silent No Morel Garden in May so you can see them in the garden! #rhschelsea #chelseaflowershow2026 #ladygardenfoundation #silentnomore

Grid Thirteen Design Studio’s ‘The Architecture of Luxury’ project showcasing their ‘ Darling Maeve’ handcrafted cabinetry. As featured in The Times. /portfolio #handcraftedkitchens #bespokekitchens #luxurykitchens #superluxedecor

Thanks to @lindsay__blair for writing about this super-luxury kitchen design by @gridthirteenluxurykitchens in today’s @timesproperty 
The owner @drsaleenazimri commissioned Grid Thirteen Design Studio in North Leeds to design a warm, atmospheric, wow-factor, kitchen-living space within their new extension that would become the main hub of family life - one that would offer a luxurious environment for busy mornings, relaxed evening meals, and weekend entertaining. 
Grid Thirteen Design Studio began by creating a design vision that felt less like a utilitarian kitchen, and more like a continuation of the home’s adjoining luxury living areas. Blending contemporary and classic forms, Grid Thirteen Design Studio specified bespoke cabinetry from Grid Thirteen’s own handcrafted ‘Darling Maeve’ range, made locally by master craftsmen in Yorkshire, with final veneer finishes carefully developed to achieve a dual-tone effect. 
Above the sink run, dramatic wooden arches were beautifully integrated into the architecture of the room, inlaid with marble-effect stone and softly illuminated by shelf lighting, creating a stunning focal point that adds grandeur and visual interest.   The inclusion of two striking central islands, crafted in dark timber cabinetry with stone worktops mitred for a thicker, more luxurious appearance, provides both beauty and durability. Casual family seating was incorporated into the layout, alongside a separate sink run and tall appliance and storage bank.   A secondary ‘Mess Kitchen’, accessed through a secret bi-fold walkthrough door, was designed as a hardworking space to accommodate the family’s heavy cooking, entertaining, household cleaning, and overflow storage.   @karndean_uk flooring was chosen throughout both spaces and features a refined brass inlay to add interest and reflects the detail and hardware of the main kitchen, whilst the layered lighting scheme in the space was carefully designed to create the warm, moody atmosphere the homeowners had envisioned.   Thanks to @katrina_burroughs at The Times Property for the commission! Photos by @andyhaslamphotography

Good luck to @gridthirteenluxurykitchens at tonight’s prestigious @northerndesignawards who are finalists in their best ‘Kitchen Design Company’ category. Situated in the heart of North Leeds, Grid Thirteen is an award-winning independent Northern design studio led by Creative Director Natalie Fry, whose design team share a passion for creating exceptional spaces, pushing boundaries and specialising in blurring the lines between classic and contemporary styles to create kitchen and living spaces that are innovative and timeless. Hosted at Manchester’s Cathedral, the Northern Design Awards are a celebration of creativity, innovation and design excellence across the North, showcasing the incredible talent that shapes the region’s design landscape. #northerndesign #northendesigntalent #kitchendesigners #luxurykitchendesigns #leedsdesigntalent #bespokekitchens #blendedkitchen Project design by Grid Thirteen - Luxury Interior Furniture photo by @andyhaslamphotography