Before the Concrete Sets - GardensDB Browse [ ![](/images/leaf_icon.svg) Gardens**DB** ](https://gardensdb.com) [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) [ Search gardens, designers, shows… ](https://gardensdb.com/search) [ Login ](https://gardensdb.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fgardensdb.com%2Fgardens%2Fbefore-the-concrete-sets) [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) [ ](https://gardensdb.com/search) Discover - [ Home ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Events ](https://gardensdb.com/events) - [ 360° tours ](https://gardensdb.com/360-tours) - [ Trails ](https://gardensdb.com/trails) People & studios - [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Books ](https://gardensdb.com/books) - [ Jobs ](https://gardensdb.com/jobs) Organisations - [ Sponsors ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charity & non-profits ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) Account - [ Login ](https://gardensdb.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fgardensdb.com%2Fgardens%2Fbefore-the-concrete-sets) - [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) Discover - [ Home Today's highlights ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens Show gardens, catalogued ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Shows Horticultural shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Events Festivals, courses & open days ](https://gardensdb.com/events) - [ 360° tours Step inside, long after the show packs up ](https://gardensdb.com/360-tours) - [ Trails Curated routes through the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/trails) People & studios - [ People Designers, judges, growers ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios Design practices ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Books Recommended reading ](https://gardensdb.com/books) - [ Jobs Roles in the industry ](https://gardensdb.com/jobs) Organisations - [ Sponsors Organisations that back the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charity & non-profits Causes behind the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives Groups & community projects ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies Suppliers & contractors ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education Schools, colleges & universities ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries Plant suppliers & growers ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) [ Submit a garden ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens/submit) [ About GardensDB ](https://gardensdb.com/help) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/gardens/before-the-concrete-sets/primary_image.webp?v=7512c409-88b8-4027-85d8-e24e68bb523e) [Gardens](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) / [ RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2025 ](https://gardensdb.com/shows/rhs-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival-2025) Pocket Planting ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-silver-medal/icon.webp) Silver Medal Before the Concrete Sets ========================== Designed by Nathan Humphreys, Helen Haley At a glance Show RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival Year 2025 Category Pocket Planting 360° Photo Plant Lists Photo: GardensDB About this garden The story ----------- Inspired by the designers' hometown of Didcot, where rapid urbanisation threatens to erase the soul of the place, the garden asks a bold question: why wait until a town has become a city, to reclaim green space? Cities around the world are now playing catch-up, racing to restore nature where it has long been erased. But what if, as our towns grow, green infrastructure grows with them, not as an afterthought, but before the concrete sets? The garden will feature materials often left over at the end of construction projects, showing how these can be upcycled into something beautiful and useful. A bench built from reclaimed English oak and set on steel joists, reflects the meeting point of past industry and present craft. The simple, robust design is a nod to the rural and working landscapes of Oxfordshire, where steel and timber once shaped local life. Placed within the garden, the bench invites pause, a quiet moment to reflect on what was here before and what might come after. Plants The planting is inspired by the chalk grasslands surrounding the North Wessex Downs, rooting it firmly in its intended location. Happily, plants which thrive in the thin, free-draining alkaline soils of chalk grasslands are also ideally suited to conditions on a new-build site, which may be contaminated by (often alkaline) building materials. Plants have also been selected for biodiversity and many produce attractive seed heads, creating winter interest, food for birds and insect habitats. Award Recognition ------------- - ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-silver-medal/icon.webp) Silver Medal RHS The people behind it Designers ----------- - [ ![Nathan Humphreys](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/nathan-humphreys/profile_photo.webp?v=f0b9f529-3176-4356-938c-44f15e08b3d2) Nathan Humphreys Designer Surrounding Counties ](https://gardensdb.com/people/nathan-humphreys) - [ ![Helen Haley](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/helen-haley/profile_photo.webp?v=5183ba73-bab0-4091-a836-003f86c83d84) Helen Haley Designer ](https://gardensdb.com/people/helen-haley) Look around 360° photo ------------ Loading panorama... Unable to load panorama. Click and drag to look around. Scroll to zoom. Tap and drag to look around. Pinch to zoom. Photography Gallery --------- ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/4b1aa2f0-cae5-4e4e-b235-3832fb9c3342/conversions/BeforeTheConcreteSets1-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/f1b7f939-978c-41e3-97ba-8967c2bb6b5b/conversions/BeforeTheConcreteSets2-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/6043ede6-b06f-4ecb-89d3-9b2863647795/conversions/BeforeTheConcreteSets3-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/90547280-0117-48c5-9bab-6544d81dde12/conversions/BeforeTheConcreteSets5-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/92720504-ca51-4a65-b09b-f70861407435/conversions/BeforeTheConcreteSets4-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/74bf9785-6806-4994-9d7c-8659bdc32e80/conversions/Before-the-Concrete-Sets---3-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/a2a4d45e-8fef-42f5-97d4-0a2ee6ad44c4/conversions/Before-the-Concrete-Sets---1-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/4abd0247-c873-475b-83b5-3e6e47cf2e81/conversions/Before-the-Concrete-Sets---4-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/419205b2-3a67-4b83-ab80-33a974efa9a5/conversions/Before-the-Concrete-Sets---2-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/8ff02f97-e858-459a-bb40-c56f4626457d/conversions/Before-the-Concrete-Sets---5-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/0e36c1e0-ed5c-4e72-8213-190642329a8a/conversions/Before-the-Concrete-Sets---Render-gallery.webp) ![]() / Photo: Planting Plant lists ------------- Click on a plant to enlarge or purchase. ### Trees & Shrubs 2 ![Rosa spinosissima](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/b7a3c147-161b-4e69-8fa1-884b185a4c68/conversions/rosa-spinosissima-thumbnail.webp) Rosa spinosissima ![Viburnum lantana](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/060447e7-b995-416a-8025-5fe15684ec5d/conversions/viburnum-lantana-thumbnail.webp) Viburnum lantana ### Perennials, Biennials, Annuals 37 ![Achillea millefolium](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/3e633da2-fb8b-4fcc-a1c6-bbde2df1713b/conversions/achillea-millefolium-thumbnail.webp) Achillea millefolium ![Allium sphaerocephalon 'AGM'](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/1bba3357-8b4f-417a-8f23-272f2e578339/conversions/allium-sphaerocephalon-agm-thumbnail.webp) Allium sphaerocephalon 'AGM' ![Campanula rotundifolia](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/c96a5cf7-6b74-4621-9e8a-0458a81df5db/conversions/campanula-rotundifolia-thumbnail.webp) Campanula rotundifolia ![Centaurea nigra](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/6f17c1eb-9d35-4ebe-a182-b31a37c4bc6b/conversions/centaurea-nigra-thumbnail.webp) Centaurea nigra ![Centranthus ruber](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/2466e123-7505-41cf-9a94-a7b787e4b19b/conversions/centranthus-ruber-thumbnail.webp) Centranthus ruber ![Chamaemelum nobile](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/d419e9a2-bc60-4f52-b6d7-951cbd8fd1bf/conversions/chameamelum-nobile-thumbnail.webp) Chamaemelum nobile ![Clinopodium vulgare](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/0a15f03a-5705-4221-aa57-4f203c15c31a/conversions/clinopodium-vulgare-thumbnail.webp) Clinopodium vulgare ![Daucus carota](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/78e53aa5-9e66-4e48-b7d9-c41d799e83a1/conversions/daucus-carota-thumbnail.webp) Daucus carota ![Digitalis purpurea](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/2a5e9fb4-0fde-425f-af5f-7c8b5e009dfa/conversions/digitalis-purpurea-thumbnail.webp) Digitalis purpurea ![Digitalis purpurea 'Pink Panther'](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/ecd807f0-2c30-490d-8de0-0e01e62e4066/conversions/digitalis-pink-panther-thumbnail.webp) Digitalis purpurea 'Pink Panther' ![Galium verum](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/de37ac26-c189-4862-a1fd-4e5352efa665/conversions/galium-verum-thumbnail.webp) Galium verum ![Knautia arvensis](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/09aa966f-13d5-4e96-96ca-c86dd1a0c0e2/conversions/knautia-arvensis-thumbnail.webp) Knautia arvensis ![Knautia macedonica](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/6880ee70-71a6-4140-9ec7-e7183ea1020d/conversions/knautia-macedonica-thumbnail.webp) Knautia macedonica ![Lamium album](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/edefe6c7-d15c-402d-8bf3-211814d2e9fe/conversions/lamium-album-thumbnail.webp) Lamium album ![Leucanthemum vulgare](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/c69a7f63-fb7d-40c8-a0a6-c348d3739573/conversions/leucanthemum-vulgare-thumbnail.webp) Leucanthemum vulgare ![Ligusticum lucidum](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/7af8c4fc-9526-4d17-a225-d8d3c62e0b01/conversions/ligusticum-lucidum-thumbnail.webp) Ligusticum lucidum ![Ligusticum scoticum](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/c1ee5a2c-cdb8-4ef8-be63-73a41f271aa4/conversions/ligusticum-scoticum-thumbnail.webp) Ligusticum scoticum ![Lotus corniculatus](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/2d1953b8-eced-4c43-a774-5ab42fe355bc/conversions/lotus-corniculatus-thumbnail.webp) Lotus corniculatus ![Medicago lupulina](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/cfa5a715-84c7-4948-9b05-e0d27a302536/conversions/medicago-lupulina-thumbnail.webp) Medicago lupulina ![Ononis repens](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/a79cee3c-138c-4143-9a1b-137877c0b055/conversions/ononis-repens-thumbnail.webp) Ononis repens ![Origanum vulgare](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/608c17c4-3898-40b9-8434-2d8f0d31ab3e/conversions/origanum-vulgare-thumbnail.webp) Origanum vulgare ![Prunella vulgaris](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/122cc465-d0eb-4196-9346-3b370359a4a4/conversions/prunella-vulgaris-thumbnail.webp) Prunella vulgaris ![Reseda luteola](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/f3970d0a-2fbc-4784-b0ec-4a35aa73124c/conversions/reseda-luteola-thumbnail.webp) Reseda luteola ![Salvia nemorosa 'Skylark' AGM](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/b55d7727-b6ca-401b-ad98-62b846e1949e/conversions/salvia-skylark-agm-thumbnail.webp) Salvia nemorosa 'Skylark' AGM ![Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain'](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/57a6d68a-8c52-43a6-9823-9bab33d26140/conversions/salvia-verticillata-purple-rain-thumbnail.webp) Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain' ![Sanguisorba minor](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/fda5ad7f-e45c-45d1-a4c1-ff619d33264e/conversions/sanguisorba-minor-thumbnail.webp) Sanguisorba minor ![Scabiosa columbaria 'Magic'](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/6ae2f6a7-bf93-45cf-9803-e74247a080bd/conversions/scabiosa-magic-thumbnail.webp) Scabiosa columbaria 'Magic' ![Scabiosa columbaria 'Mariposa Blue'](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/7dfe79c9-5221-40d1-9aa4-bd4e63b2402a/conversions/scabiosa-mariposa-blue-thumbnail.webp) Scabiosa columbaria 'Mariposa Blue' ![Seseli elatum subsp. osseum](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/e46803e2-4983-48cd-a642-002968969e26/conversions/seseli-elatum-subsp-osseum-thumbnail.webp) Seseli elatum subsp. osseum ![Seseli gracile](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/b95b3bf0-6212-4294-a374-9408f1a23a01/conversions/seseli-gracile-thumbnail.webp) Seseli gracile ![Silene dioica](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/da4ef31a-34c7-4af2-94ab-06b0c92a462c/conversions/silene-dioica-thumbnail.webp) Silene dioica ![Silene vulgaris](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/1559115f-611f-4508-809e-3fc14f3fe7a2/conversions/silene-vulgaris-thumbnail.webp) Silene vulgaris ![Succisa pratensis](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/ca3f6941-6ddf-41a9-a1bf-6eea337fb90b/conversions/succisa-pratensis-thumbnail.webp) Succisa pratensis ![Thymus polytrichus](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/c471d748-8b35-4a29-aa94-ca2d02e98643/conversions/thymus-polytrichus-thumbnail.webp) Thymus polytrichus ![Thymus serpyllum](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/e6c5e228-7b21-456d-9355-86de4e8fd5c3/conversions/thymus-serpyllum-thumbnail.webp) Thymus serpyllum ![Trifolium repens](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/96430659-5437-44d4-9909-91d116e600cc/conversions/trifolium-repens-thumbnail.webp) Trifolium repens ![Verbascum lychnitis](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/09057e72-d532-4365-82a1-efb7c85f889c/conversions/verbascum-lychnitis-thumbnail.webp) Verbascum lychnitis ### Ferns 2 ![Polypodium vulgare](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/2f8054b7-c30e-473c-97b9-87012f0a7b8b/conversions/polypodium-vulgare-thumbnail.webp) Polypodium vulgare ![Polystichum aculeatum](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/2bb6f6a7-830e-44d7-86a6-692478e56be4/conversions/polystichum-aculeatum-thumbnail.webp) Polystichum aculeatum ### Grasses 4 ![Briza media](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/9a9ca348-e72c-4c93-9395-66e540c5649b/conversions/briza-media-thumbnail.webp) Briza media ![Carex divulsa Schkuhr](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/6b9ad965-bb69-4203-8303-1287ce51ab7a/conversions/carex-divulsa-thumbnail.webp) Carex divulsa Schkuhr ![Carex flacca Schreb.](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/0c35101d-a1f5-4c3e-af54-fc038485b9b7/conversions/carex-flacca-schreb-thumbnail.webp) Carex flacca Schreb. ![Stipa pseudoichu](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/e62e1298-8be2-4b3a-ab41-90c8d86123df/conversions/stipa-pseudoichu-thumbnail.webp) Stipa pseudoichu ![]() Buy this plant → Brought to life by Organisations --------------- ### Landscaper 1 - [ ![Surrounding Counties](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/surrounding-counties/logo.webp) Surrounding Counties ](https://gardensdb.com/companies/surrounding-counties) ### Plant Providers 5 - [ ![The Blooming Wild Plant Nursery](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/nurseries/the-blooming-wild-plant-nursery/logo.webp) The Blooming Wild Plant Nursery Native Wild Flowers ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries/the-blooming-wild-plant-nursery) - [ ![Hortus Loci](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/nurseries/hortus-loci/logo.webp) Hortus Loci Perennials ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries/hortus-loci) - [ ![How Green Nursery](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/nurseries/how-green-nursery/logo.webp) How Green Nursery Perennials ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries/how-green-nursery) - [ ![Kelways](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/nurseries/kelways/logo.webp) Kelways Perennials ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries/kelways) - [ ![New Wood Trees](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/nurseries/new-wood-trees/logo.webp?v=01be4c86-2688-4d33-8d4e-335fbadc4a74) New Wood Trees Viburnum Lantana ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries/new-wood-trees) ### Suppliers 2 - [ ![Allgreen](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/allgreen/logo.webp) Allgreen Oak Setts ](https://gardensdb.com/companies/allgreen) - [ ![Ashwells](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/ashwells/logo.webp?v=9a18b2a7-897f-46f5-bd7a-86e583790a2e) Ashwells Reclaimed Oak ](https://gardensdb.com/companies/ashwells) ### Sponsor 1 - [ ![Surrounding Counties](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/surrounding-counties/logo.webp) Surrounding Counties ](https://gardensdb.com/companies/surrounding-counties) Further reading Links ------- - [ ![](https://t0.gstatic.com/faviconV2?client=SOCIAL&type=FAVICON&fallback_opts=TYPE,SIZE,URL&size=64&url=https://cdn.gardensdb.com/plant-lists/Before the Concrete Sets - Plant List.pdf) Plant List ]() ![](/images/leaf_icon.svg) Gardens**DB** The world's largest collection of show gardens online, kept free, kept current, and shaped by the community that uses it. 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