Down Memory Lane

In 2021 we exhibited the ‘Down Memory Lane’ Garden at RHS Hampton Court Flower Show. The garden was a collaborative design by the team at Blue Diamond, inspired by the father of the lead designer, Anna, who works at Bridgemere. The garden received tremendous acclaim and won a Silver Gilt Medal. It was designed to give solace and comfort to dementia sufferers and their carers. Different elements of the design are intended to trigger garden-related memories such as time spent being busy in the garden, digging over the soil, enjoying the scent of a favourite flower or picking delicious vegetables.

A new Rose called, Down Memory Lane, was introduced in 2021 and the garden also include the floral emblem of the Alzheimer’s Society, the Forget-me-not. The design incorporates space to relax, watch nature, potter, and find contentment in memories. The glass potting shed is a key element to encourage such memory stimulation and heritage varieties of vegetables are also grown. A palette of pastel-toned plants populate the garden.

Highlights

Anna, our Head Designer, recommends you particularly look out for Plants which are chosen to attract wildlife and pollinators, have good strength of fragrance or another sensory benefits such as a pleasing touch. Also the blue Forget-me-nots, the emblem of the Alzheimer’s Society Charity, as well as an orange rose called ‘Down Memory Lane’, also named on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Charity.

Plants to look out for...

Click on a plant to find out more:

Rose ‘Down Memory Lane’

Launched on behalf of Alzheimer's Society, this beautiful climbing rose produces bright, orange-copper, double blooms against contrasting dark green, glossy foliage. Height approx. 3-4.5m when fully grown.

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’

Common Name: English Lavender
A small bushy, evergreen shrub which is native to the UK. It has narrow, silvery-grey leaves and small fragrant violet-purple flowers in spikes in the summer which are 3-4cm in length.

Nemesia ‘Wisley Vanilla’

A semi-hardy, free flowering, perennial ideal for bedding and providing colour and scent during the summer months. It has a fabulous vanilla scent and large striking white flowers.

Erigeron karvinskianus

It is a perennial with masses of small daisies, emerging as white, then turning pink, with yellow centres, from May to October. Bees and butterflies love it!