The National Garden Scheme: Hotter Summers, Cooler Colours - 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%2Fthe-national-garden-scheme-hotter-summers-cooler-colours) [ 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%2Fthe-national-garden-scheme-hotter-summers-cooler-colours) - [ 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/the-national-garden-scheme-hotter-summers-cooler-colours/primary_image.webp?v=7db1c9b8-1ab3-4121-a2c6-6aaeae3e5571) [Gardens](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) / [ RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse 2025 ](https://gardensdb.com/shows/rhs-flower-show-wentworth-woodhouse-2025) Long Borders ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-silver-medal/icon.webp) Silver Medal The National Garden Scheme: Hotter Summers, Cooler Colours ============================================================ Designed by Lydia Weston-Foss At a glance Show RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse Year 2025 Category Long Borders 360° Photo Border Photo: GardensDB About this garden The story ----------- Traditionally, when we imagine hot borders, we imagine hot colours and plants found in more arid or tropical environments. This doesn't need to be the case. We can still have the English country garden feel and colour palette that can cope with a changing climate and doesn't lose the romantic feel. This is what a visitor can expect to see. The garden shows how hot border planting can be achieved in an English country theme. Arts & Crafts gardens such as Sissinghurst, Great Dixter and Hidcote Manor serve as inspiration. The use of perennials, specifically salvias are in keeping with the traditional colour palette of the English country garden. This aesthetic is combined with the intention to withstand the changing climate and particularly hotter drier summers. Key features include topiary spheres, Taxus baccata (English yew) a more robust plant than Buxus and one that is a classic feature in larger Arts & Crafts gardens across the country. The driftwood pieces are a symbolic representation of the drying climate, an impactful, focal feature for the border. A small amount of visible soil in the planting scheme allows for a sense of breathability without compromising the overall design. Award Recognition ------------- - ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-silver-medal/icon.webp) Silver Medal RHS The people behind it Designer ---------- - [ ![Lydia Weston-Foss](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/lydia-weston-foss/profile_photo.webp) Lydia Weston-Foss Designer ](https://gardensdb.com/people/lydia-weston-foss) 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/b5f0224c-d7f7-4dc9-95fd-2d48dc15ec84/conversions/IMG_6933-blur-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/484056d3-107c-4b53-8c7a-56f8243bcc7a/conversions/National-Garden-Scheme---Drone-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/d23aee7b-f244-44a7-957a-3e08909f3fca/conversions/IMG_6934-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/9a957d9f-27ab-4bc7-aac1-484219212639/conversions/IMG_6935-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/5f9e1499-a6fa-4229-85fd-c398d1dcd73e/conversions/IMG_6936-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/68304282-2c60-4ece-928b-b70e6fe13f95/conversions/IMG_6937-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/2d516879-4c69-428b-ae02-85fd649cc6a3/conversions/IMG_6932-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/0c08b543-79b1-4094-9fc9-c84cf7f590b1/conversions/The-National-Garden-Scheme-Hotter-Summers,-Cooler-Colours-1088x612-gallery.webp) ![]() / Photo: Brought to life by Organisations --------------- ### Sponsor 1 - [ ![The National Garden Scheme](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/charities/the-national-garden-scheme/logo.webp) The National Garden Scheme ](https://gardensdb.com/charities/the-national-garden-scheme) ![](/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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