Tough as Old Boots Garden by Zac Willitts - RHS Sandringham Flower Show 2026 - GardensDB [ Skip to content ](#main) 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) [ Log in ](https://gardensdb.com/login) [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) [ ](https://gardensdb.com/search) Discover - [ Home ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Plants ](https://gardensdb.com/plants) - [ 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) - [ Charities & non-profits ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education institutions ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) Account - [ Log in ](https://gardensdb.com/login) - [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) Follow [ gardensdb on Instagram (opens in a new tab)](https://www.instagram.com/gardensdb/) Discover - [ Home Today's highlights ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens Show gardens, catalogued ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Plants What was planted, and who used it ](https://gardensdb.com/plants) - [ 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) - [ Charities & 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 institutions 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) [ gardensdb on Instagram (opens in a new tab)](https://www.instagram.com/gardensdb/) ![A rustic long border garden with a wildlife pond, water lilies, broken terracotta pipes, stacked bricks, gravel, and a mix of purple salvia and yellow perennial flowers.](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/73d28009-e249-4777-af41-2184ada35a96/conversions/PXL_20260722_154832101-gallery.webp) [Gardens](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) / [ RHS Sandringham Flower Show 2026 ](https://gardensdb.com/shows/rhs-sandringham-flower-show-2026) Long Borders ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-gold-medal/icon.webp) Gold Medal Tough as Old Boots Garden =========================== Designed by Zac Willitts, James Horne At a glance Show RHS Sandringham Flower Show Year 2026 Category Long Borders Border Photo: GardensDB About this garden The story ----------- As climate unpredictability increases, plant choices become more important and exciting than ever. Based on a study tour the designers undertook in 2024, this raised bed aims to surprise people about what can grow in an urban setting. Bright purples and yellows with contrasting leaf forms and varied heights create visual interest. All plants draw inspiration from Mediterranean and dry steppe climates, from the elegant tree *Heptacodium miconioides* to the structural umbellifers of *Angelica sylvestris*. Behind them, rubble walls built from reclaimed construction waste offer habitat niches for nesting bees and other invertebrates. At the centre, an ephemeral pond is planted with *Nymphaea alba*, whose large floating leaves and showy blooms cool the pond and reduce evaporation. Given the growing importance of urban ecology, this design emphasises that our landscapes must adapt and be tough as old boots. Awards Recognition ------------- - ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-gold-medal/icon.webp) Gold Medal RHS - ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-best-long-border/icon.webp) Best Long Border RHS The people behind it Designers ----------- - [ ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/zac-willitts/profile_photo.webp?v=382908a0-ee50-4027-bd34-782083df53b2) Zac Willitts Designer ](https://gardensdb.com/people/zac-willitts) - [ JH James Horne Designer ](https://gardensdb.com/people/james-horne) Photography Gallery --------- ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/73d28009-e249-4777-af41-2184ada35a96/conversions/PXL_20260722_154832101-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/216b1ec3-360c-416c-8dd0-bff5f2c4b30c/conversions/PXL_20260722_154754157.MP-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/9db70452-a64d-4957-b9c5-03c76ac72eda/conversions/PXL_20260722_154801720.MP-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/a80fcd97-7b7f-47ab-bbfa-196f37723566/conversions/PXL_20260722_154806692-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/d5a777b0-3508-4bc8-95bb-47f4607fd80c/conversions/PXL_20260722_154808960-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/01277ed3-a8c8-421b-bb04-1e4e03500fa0/conversions/PXL_20260722_154814028-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/d94fddfa-360c-481c-9edd-b2e89fdb3eb1/conversions/PXL_20260722_154824976-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/a09f1769-29b5-46f2-ac9d-409944154e9c/conversions/PXL_20260722_154838702-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/9e4bb826-c4b2-4ebc-bdc8-2dd5338256d0/conversions/PXL_20260722_154748257-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/919d87be-7df7-41ba-b15b-66f13f0c7d68/conversions/tough-as-old-boots-gallery.webp) ![]() / Hero image Set as hero Photo: Brought to life by Organisations --------------- ### Landscaper 1 - [ ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/cherry-tree-renovation-cambridge/logo.webp?v=9484bef8-cec7-4a3f-9a3b-e6ac38b4fe9c) Cherry Tree Renovation Cambridge ](https://gardensdb.com/companies/cherry-tree-renovation-cambridge) ![](/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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