Horticulture student wins People's Choice Award at BBC Gardener's World Spring Fair for their sensory garden

This year’s theme for a budget-friendly garden design was ‘Nature’s Art within a Garden’ at 2025's BBC Gardener's World Spring Fair.

The talented Level 3 Horticulture student, Molly’s entry was a garden called ‘Art in the Dark’. It paints a picture of fictional character, Cyril, an elderly RAF veteran who despite losing his sight in the war, has found comfort and connection in a multi-sensory garden created with his late wife, Peggy. 

With its rustling leaves and plants, scented flowers, rich soil and bricks underfoot, the garden comes to life, each step and touch evoking treasured memories and a shared love of finding art within nature.

The garden captivated visitors and judges alike, ultimately winning the coveted Visitors’ Choice Best Showcase Garden Award for its compelling narrative, sensory richness, and imaginative design.

Pauline Sutherland, Horticultural and Garden Design Lecturer at Plumpton College, shared the story behind the build:

“Our students at Plumpton College wanted to show that instead of using wood as a supporting wall in our show garden, we chose gabions. We chose them for aesthetics, longevity and for stability. As you can see the show garden came out beautifly and we won the People's Choice award at BBC Gardeners World Spring Fair 2025”

With thanks to  Wirefence  who supported the project by contributing £264 worth of discounted materials, which were used to create a gabion feature.

Wirefence was proud to support this project by providing gabions, which played a crucial role in the garden’s structure and aesthetic. Erno, Customer Service Executive at Wirefence, said:

“We were delighted to assist Plumpton College with their Art in the Dark garden. It’s inspiring to see how the students utilized our gabions to create a space that engages all the senses, embodying the essence of nature’s artistry. Supporting the next generation of horticulturists in such meaningful projects aligns perfectly with our commitment to innovative and inclusive garden design.”