Seawilding

Project year: 2025
Posted: 01 Jun, 2025

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Seawilding

Details

Designer Ryan McMahon’s Seawilding Garden is inspired by the landscape of Loch Craignish on Scotland’s west coast, home to the marine restoration charity Seawilding. Making his RHS Chelsea Flower Show debut, Ryan has drawn attention with his bold planting, including the show’s first-ever use of seagrass, the ocean’s only flowering plant—highlighting the rising importance of marine conservation.

The garden captures a distinctly coastal atmosphere. Slabby Sandstone supplied by CED Stone forms rock outcrops emerging from a saltwater pool and pebble beach, creating planting zones that range from boggy hollows to slightly freer-draining elevated areas. Earlier in the year, CED’s Terry Saxton helped Ryan hand-select the stone at the quarry, and contractors Frogheath Landscaping have used it throughout the build.

A sandstone step-stone path leads to an informal rocky seating area, where a flowing seagrass sculpture links the land garden with the saltwater pool planted with real seagrass. At the front, a viewing window set into the rocky outcrops offers a glimpse into Loch Craignish’s underwater world.

All seagrass has been grown by the Ocean Conservation Trust at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, with additional plants from Scotland’s west coast. After the show, the garden will be relocated to Loch Craignish, and the seagrass will return to the Trust to support ongoing marine restoration.

Products used:
Slabby Sandstone Rockery