BBC 'Mini' Gardens at earth centre

These 7 gardens were created in 1999 by finalists in the annual Gardeners World competition. Each garden was created with a budget of £700.

Which garden would YOU chose to win the prize?

This garden is by Katherine Crouch called 'Alpha to Omega'. It uses recycled materials and plants that require little maintenance. There is a hidden washing rotary dryer. There is a trellis with a climbing hop plant. There are lovely smelly herbs growing in the granite sets, and a hanging basket with sedums.

Joan Christie calls this garden 'The Field of Dreams'. Its is a garden in which to sit, relax and is an extra room in good weather. It is low maintenance. There are spring bulbs, a crab apple tree, climbers and alpines. Lots of different leaf textures & colours, and a lovely red robinia. The offset circle is designed to disguise the square plot. One rock holds water for birds.

Maureen Sawyer, Northern Finalist, designed this garden for a newly married couple. There is space but privacy. The slabs look good when wet. The fence is sage green, and the different heights of the raised beds adds an illusion of space. Some plants are aromatic (oregano), some are Mediterranean & there are  large grasses.

Ian Muirhead from Scotland created this 'Garden for an Expatriate' or 'Fusion Gardening'.  The inspiration for the design comes from fusion cooking, blending as it does foods spices and flavourings from Asia & Europe. There is traditional British garden design - hedge, lawn, bedding plants, roses, with Japanese & Asian influences of bamboo, rocks, gravel, & red & gold.

Danae Johnston, the east & South east finalist calls this garden 'Serendipity'. It is a garden for a retired couple. Their is a carboy from a tip, and a pool with some flue liners. These were originally painted shiny black to look wet. Their is gravel to avoid weeding. Lots of pink colours and golden tones like the setting sun. Lots of grasses which create movement in the slightest breeze and silky to touch. Snowdrops are planted under the bench

This garden is called 'Shades of Wales' and was designed by Sandra Attenburrow. It is an urban or town garden, for anyone with a longing for Wales. There are the silvers, greys & blacks of the hills, slate & rocks the blues of the sky sea & conifers and greens of the fields, trees and plants. There is a cast iron pig trough suggesting the industrial & agricultural features of Wales, and slate on the path which comes alive when wet,

This garden was from Midlands finalist Maurice Green and is called 'The Spirit of the Pool'. It is an 'ideas pool' with 'ideas' represented by small plants radiating outwards. The pathway  can be life itself, leading to an area of quiet contemplation, the seat. There is a small fairy and some mysterious standing stones. Tossing a pebble into the centre of the pool creates energy which ripples out to include the whole garden.

Here are some recent views of the gardens which we saw when we visited the BBC gardens at Earth Centre in 2003 and 2004. We walked around the new paths which have been created.

These little paths have been created to take you for a lovely walk all around the BBC gardens at Earth Centre.

Did you know that American's spell 'centre' as 'center'?