An organisation using gardening to help people with disabilities was embarking on a major redesign of one of their gardens, to make it a showcase for the social and therapeutic benefits of gardening.

The triangular plot is located within a London park, but did little to attract attention. The organisation wanted to make the garden something that would inspire its gardeners, sponsors and passers-by, and to that end had already commissioned a new state-of-the-art building at its heart. Next, the garden needed to be transformed into an adaptable working space for its gardeners, whose disabilities include physical, mental and sensory, whilst at the same time encouraging interest from sponsors and the public.

Christine Whatley designed an uplifting and dynamic garden. The inspiration for the design is the pattern of ripples on a pond, that start from a small event but grow far out from that point. One set of ripples start within the garden and spread outside, symbolising the influence that the garden project can have on the surrounding community. The second ripples start outside but move across the garden, symbolising the positive part the community can play in helping the lives of the gardeners.

The design makes the most of the existing mature trees and historical features. It includes stimulating and calming areas; areas of seclusion and areas for interaction; provision for horticultural training and public education; and everything from plant propagation to composting.