Following a national competition, Harris Bugg Studio have been chosen by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) to design the new kitchen garden at RHS Garden Bridgewater.

Harris Bugg studio was founded in May 2017 by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg, who after years of informal collaborations on several projects, decided to merge their individual practices together to form a new and innovative landscape design practice. 

Harris and Bugg's vision for the garden combines edible planting with both traditional and new ideas to encourage visitors to grow their own plants at home. It is set within the walls of the original Victorian Kitchen Garden, and uses the Bridgewater Canal as inspiration for the layout of the garden.

The new garden will also contain four distinct spaces: the Permaculture Garden; the Classic Fruit and Vegetable Garden; the Ornamental Productive Garden; and the Walls, upon which fruit trees will be trained. Harris Bugg studio aim to explore new growing techniques and unusual species, but also to maintain the spirit of the Victorian walled kitchen gardens by demonstrating a broad range of plants for a purpose.

Photo: Tom Stuart-Smith

"The RHS challenged us to re-vision this space as a world class ornamental kitchen garden for the 21st century," explained Harris. "Our aim is to create a garden that resonates with its rich and important historic past, while of course being packed with horticultural inspiration for visitors."

Marcus Chilton-Jones, Curator of RHS Bridgewater said:"Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg are pioneering talents of their generation, and I could not be more delighted that their innovative plan for the Kitchen Garden will be made real."

RHS Bridgewater is currently under development at Worsley New Hall in Salford. The masterplan is being designed by Tom Stuart-Smith MSGD and has been deemed one of the largest gardening projects in Europe. The garden will cover 154 acres and is expected to open in 2020.

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