The Eel Catcher's Garden

I grew up just outside Ely, a city named after the eels that once thrived in the marshy fens. My design is rooted in childhood memories among the wetlands, surrounded by reedbeds, sedges, and the folklore of eel catchers, who made their livelihood from the watery land.

It reflects ecological succession, from the most water-loving plants to those that can cope with drier conditions, and the traditional eel-catching baskets provide structure and a glimpse into another time. The inclusion of the crab apple symbolises my own training in orcharding and forest gardening, reflecting my own life's succession.

I'd like my design to question what a garden can be: a space on the margins between cultivation and wildness, yet vibrant and full of colour. It celebrates native resilient species that can endure extremes, sustain wildlife, and point towards the future of gardening grounded in beauty, ecology, and belonging.