GardensDB - Gardens - Life in Dereliction

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 Life in Dereliction

 ![Life in Dereliction](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/gardens/life-in-dereliction/primary_image.webp?v=1fe0f6d2-1090-4f8e-9b16-f86af9e95a51)

 [RHS Badminton Flower Show 2026](https://gardensdb.com/shows/rhs-badminton-flower-show-2026) - Pocket Planting

Life in Dereliction
===================

Despite the challenging conditions often associated with brownfield lands - from infertile soils and contamination to minimal irrigation and exposure - these sites can evolve into highly biodiverse successional habitats. This design encourages visitors to reconsider the importance of these often-overlooked landscapes and to recognise their contribution to the wider urban ecological networks.

The regenerative processes of brownfield land are turned into an aesthetic, small-scale planting scheme. Three distinct planting gradients reflect natural successions patterns, echoing pioneering species, expanding seed banks and competitive scrub communities. As these environments are typically characterised by substrates such as gravel, crushed concrete or bricks, resilient and drought-tolerant species like *Achillea* 'Credo' are included.

The garden also features deadwood structures and other 'found objects' sourced from brownfield sites, repurposed to create microhabitats for invertebrates that colonise these lands.

Displayed At

 ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/shows/rhs-badminton-flower-show-2026/logo.webp)

 [RHS Badminton Flower Show 2026](https://gardensdb.com/shows/rhs-badminton-flower-show-2026)

Gallery

 [ ![life-in-dereliction](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/d7d1ce0b-07ed-4f45-8fa6-d98a1d9dc554/conversions/life-in-dereliction-gallery.webp)

 ](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/d7d1ce0b-07ed-4f45-8fa6-d98a1d9dc554/conversions/life-in-dereliction-gallery.webp)

Plant List

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Click on a plant to enlarge/purchase

Key Plants

 ![Achillea 'Credo'](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/eb5964f0-8a69-4abb-be3f-45f0ff0302a9/conversions/achillea-credo-icon.webp "Achillea 'Credo'") ![](/images/leaf_icon_light.svg)

 ![Dipsacus fullonum](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/ce2fd560-975b-4fc4-9db9-c5b1bfe18559/conversions/dipsacus-fullonum-icon.webp "Dipsacus fullonum") ![](/images/leaf_icon_light.svg)

 ![Eryngium × olivierianum 'Big Blue'](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/ee7e67c6-60cb-49e8-834e-0bb665d4f737/conversions/eryngium-olivierianum-big-blue-icon.webp "Eryngium × olivierianum 'Big Blue'")

 ![Achillea 'Credo'](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/eb5964f0-8a69-4abb-be3f-45f0ff0302a9/conversions/achillea-credo-thumbnail.webp)Achillea 'Credo'

 ![](/images/leaf_icon_light.svg)

Cichorium intybus

 ![Dipsacus fullonum](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/ce2fd560-975b-4fc4-9db9-c5b1bfe18559/conversions/dipsacus-fullonum-thumbnail.webp)Dipsacus fullonum

 ![](/images/leaf_icon_light.svg)

Echinacea pallida

 ![Eryngium × olivierianum 'Big Blue'](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/ee7e67c6-60cb-49e8-834e-0bb665d4f737/conversions/eryngium-olivierianum-big-blue-thumbnail.webp)Eryngium × olivierianum 'Big Blue'

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Luke Adams

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Esme Jones

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