Devon inspired garden going to Chelsea Flower Show

The garden will showcase the rainforest habitat which once covered the western coasts of Britain

A garden inspired by the Devon landscape is set to make an appearance at the Chelsea Flower Shower later this year.

Influenced by her childhood in Devon, designer Zoe Claymore is working with The Wildlife Trusts to make a garden that showcases the rainforest habitat which once covered the western coasts of Britain.

The trusts said it hoped the garden, sponsored by charity Project Giving Back, would show people how nature-friendly gardening can help British wildlife.

Ms Claymore said collaborating with the trusts to design the garden had a "genuinely poignant meaning" for her.

Zoe Claymore said she drew inspiration for the project from visits to the woods in the Dart Valley

She said: "Some of my happiest childhood memories are playing in and around Lydford Gorge, which is a British rainforest on Dartmoor, because my grandparents had a house with a woodland garden, and we just went into the woodland from the garden, and it was really magical."

Ms Claymore said she also drew inspiration for the project from visits to the woods in Devon Wildlife Trust's Dart Valley.

The British rainforest garden will feature a raised wooden walkway, a water feature based on the River Dart, lichen covered birch trees, ferns, bluebells, and moss.

Ms Claymore said she expected some people to be upset about her design due to it being a "wild habitat", but added it could help people to question what a garden is.

'All about plants'

She said: "I want to use this opportunity to really focus on the more unsung heroes of the plant kingdom, the mosses and ferns, the things we overlook when we've got an awful lot of flowers."

The creation will also use low-carbon reclaimed wood and stone sourced from the west country, she added.

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said the network of charities was "thrilled" to be bringing the wonder of British rainforests to the Chelsea Flower Show.

Ms Claymore's design will form part of the "all about plants" section of the Royal Horticultural Society's flagship show, which takes place in late May.