Fettercairn Wilderness Retreat - 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%2Fshows%2Frhs-chelsea-flower-show-2025%2Fgardens%2Ffettercairn-wilderness-retreat) [ 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%2Fshows%2Frhs-chelsea-flower-show-2025%2Fgardens%2Ffettercairn-wilderness-retreat) - [ 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 ](/help) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/gardens/fettercairn-wilderness-retreat/primary_image.webp) [Gardens](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) / [ RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 ](https://gardensdb.com/shows/rhs-chelsea-flower-show-2025) Balcony Garden ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/silver-medal/icon.webp) Silver Medal Fettercairn Wilderness Retreat ================================ Designed by Sonia Kamel, Sally Giles, Helier Bowling At a glance Show RHS Chelsea Flower Show Year 2025 Category Balcony Garden Small Show Garden Photo: GardensDB About this garden The story ----------- Inspired by the wilderness of the Scottish Cairngorms landscape, home of Fettercairn distillery, Fettercairn Wilderness Retreat is a balcony garden to ignite the senses and invigorate the soul. Surrounded by wild and verdant planting reminiscent of the Cairngorms landscape, it echoes the grassy heathland, rocky outcrops and mossy glens. A striking copper bathtub for a cold-water plunge brings the sound of moving water and a more sheltered seat provides space to breathe and relax – slowing the mind following a bracing dip. The garden is designed for a busy professional couple who love the outdoors and in particular the Cairngorms in Scotland, and want to recreate the environment for daily health benefits on their high-rise city balcony. The planting represents the various plant communities of the Cairngorms wilderness, tolerant of extreme weather conditions, not unlike those experienced on an exposed urban balcony. Pinus sylvestris is found throughout the Cairngorm forest and Cytisus grows happily amongst the rocky outcrops. Meanwhile evergreen Erica and grassy hummocks of Deschampsia flexuosa cover the rolling heathlands. Award Recognition ------------- - ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/silver-medal/icon.webp) Silver Medal RHS The people behind it Designers ----------- - [ ![Sonia Kamel](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/sonia-kamel/profile_photo.jpg) Sonia Kamel Designer Ssh Scapes ](https://gardensdb.com/people/sonia-kamel) - [ ![Sally Giles](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/sally-giles/profile_photo.jpg) Sally Giles Designer Ssh Scapes ](https://gardensdb.com/people/sally-giles) - [ ![Helier Bowling](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/hellier-bowling/profile_photo.jpg) Helier Bowling Designer Ssh Scapes ](https://gardensdb.com/people/helier-bowling) Photography Gallery --------- ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/a5fde8a3-fdb3-48af-9aa5-c588266ac960/conversions/fet1-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/dcef38c7-29d4-4baa-8a2c-a69b377894bb/conversions/fet2-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/40ab0ab5-5a98-46e7-a8c5-74d2974382dc/conversions/2-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/14e0b6e2-8c8a-432b-a4f2-a38cbe519d47/conversions/1-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/ccdd518b-14e9-49cd-a98a-95695de9d4c0/conversions/4-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/12ab4d9e-4b2f-4684-8c0b-20a9e645db74/conversions/5-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/d7f9f125-6d05-4cbc-b0a2-a97789da64b0/conversions/Fettercairn-Wilderness-Retreat---1-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/8a29047a-98b8-4e04-8d9f-1d5ab97ef947/conversions/Fettercairn-Wilderness-Retreat---2-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/585471fb-8d24-4389-b09e-7169e041fad6/conversions/Fettercairn-Wilderness-Retreat---3-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/b664a728-1d6d-48c0-9181-caf650e3823d/conversions/Fettercairn-Wilderness-Retreat---4-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/a167a351-c346-4e33-943b-f985c228faf0/conversions/render-gallery.webp) ![]() / Photo: Brought to life by Organisations --------------- ### Design Collective 1 - [ ![Ssh Scapes](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/collectives/ssh-scapes/logo.webp) Ssh Scapes ](https://gardensdb.com/organisations/ssh-scapes) ### Landscaper 1 - [ ![Nick Dguid Landscaping](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/nick-dguid-landscaping/logo.webp) Nick Dguid Landscaping ](https://gardensdb.com/organisations/nick-dguid-landscaping) ### Suppliers 4 - [ ![Verdigris](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/verdigris/logo.webp) Verdigris Copper Door, Bird Bath, Copper Planter ](https://gardensdb.com/organisations/verdigris) - [ ![Crocus](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/crocus/logo.webp) Crocus Copper Watering Hog ](https://gardensdb.com/organisations/crocus) - [ ![William Holland](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/william-holland/logo.webp) William Holland Copper Bath ](https://gardensdb.com/organisations/william-holland) - [ ![Wool Shred](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/wool-shred/logo.webp) Wool Shred Hebridean Wool ](https://gardensdb.com/organisations/wool-shred) ### Sponsor 1 - [ ![Fettercairn Whisky](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/fettercairn-whisky/logo.webp?v=c4399634-f50e-4e0c-bb16-448acd1aaba0) Fettercairn Whisky ](https://gardensdb.com/organisations/fettercairn-whisky) Helping hands Volunteers ------------ - [ ![Kiera Jamison](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/kiera-jamison/profile_photo.webp) Kiera Jamison ](https://gardensdb.com/people/kiera-jamison) ![](/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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