The APL has teamed up with Paxman Landscapes to produce a garden for the Harrogate Spring Show. The garden has the family unit at its core; an outdoor space to enjoy the company of your nearest and dearest, to dine, to relax, to build beautiful family memories. The design concept leads Mum, Dad and the children from the evening alfresco meal down to the fire pit. Reflect on the day’s events, laugh, share stories and build new memories – all under the stars with a glass of red or an orange squash.

Designed to simply translate into any family garden, the outdoor experience takes you from a simple calico-covered outdoor dining room, down through the coursed Indian stone path to a stone circle, where a bench and natural log seats encircle the fire pit, ready to warm hearts and souls after dinner.

The garden’s boundary is defined by its perimeter fencing supplied by Jacksons Fencing and punctuated by mature trees for shade, privacy and stunning vibrant foliage and bark contrast.

Soft planting hues of blues, creams and purples contrast against the more architectural and striking grasses and ferns. Pinpoints of colour stipple across the design with late-flowering tulips and a myriad of allium to add height and depth of colour. The plant selection echoes the warmth of the fire and the coolness of the breeze through the spring and summer evenings. Supplied by J A Jones of Southport.

Justin Paxman, director of Paxman Landscapes and project manager of the show garden’s construction said: “The emphasis of this year’s show garden is My Family – traditional values – mealtimes in the open air, spending quality time with family and friends and sharing stories of the day’s toils. As with our previous award-winning designs at the Show, our design and garden construction can be replicated, in entirety or just single elements, into any home garden. This show garden is one that the any family or couple can easily envisage in their own outdoor space.”

Phil Tremayne (APL), said: “The creation of this garden and the theme of family is perfect for the Association. We have long wanted our association to feel like a community, where members are happy to share knowledge and expertise and sometimes their woes. The APL are the conduit to this. As time has gone on, it feels less like a simple community, but increasingly like one big family.”