Jo Thompson, an experienced RHS Chelsea Flower show designer with 10 RHS Chelsea medals, scooped an RHS Gold medal for her 'Strong Beauty' garden designed for the Glasshouse Project.

Rosy and Jo Thompson c Rosy Hardy

Rosy with Jo Thompson and her RHS Chelsea gold medal
Photo (c) Rosy Hardy

Sponsored by Project Giving Back, the garden was inspired and designed by women who were taking part in the Glasshouse Project, which supports women prisoners through horticultural training, resettlement support and employment. The project has a 0% reoffending rate.

The garden reflected the 'Strong Beauty' of women, of hope and resilience as as women try to resettle and rebuild their lives after a prison sentence.

We started working with Jo Thompson's team in November 2024 to grow the varieties specified, which included: Alchemilla, Angelica archangelica, Astrantia, Centaurea, Erigeron, Geranium, Gillenia trifoliata, Nepeta, Plantago, Thalictrum, Verbascum and Viola. Delivering 728 perennials of 19 different varieties in a garden which featured many varieties of roses.

Glasshouse Garden (C) Jason Ingram

The Glasshouse Garden by Jo Thompson
Photo (c) Jason Ingram

Jo Thompson Glasshouse garden (c) Jason Ingram

The Glasshouse Garden by Jo Thompson
Photo (c) Jason Ingram

The garden was described by Adam Frost, a regular presenter of BBC Gardeners World as “Romantic, classic, elegant”, and we couldn't agree more.