A Pocket For Amphibians
Urban Planters Debuts at the RHS Badminton Flower Show 2026
We are thrilled to announce that Urban Planters will be showcasing for the very first time at an RHS show! Heading to the beautiful South Gloucestershire countryside this July, our debut features a stunning pocket garden designed by the talented Charlotte Connelly.
Aligned with the show’s 2026 theme, Life, Love, Local, our design is a direct response to the UK’s biodiversity crisis, specifically targeting the dramatic loss of native ponds and amphibious life.
Big Impact, Small Footprint
Amphibians are vital indicator species, meaning their health reflects the health of our entire ecosystem. A Pocket For Amphibians proves that you don’t need acres of land to make a difference. Even the most limited spaces can be transformed into a thriving haven that supports the entire amphibian life cycle, offering breeding grounds, shelter, rich food sources, and safe hibernation spots.
The Design: Naturalistic, Ethereal, and Intentional
Our freestanding pocket garden is designed to bring life to any open, sunlit green space. And while crafted to provide year-round ecological value, it reaches its breathtaking peak during the summer months.
- A Calming Palette: A soft pastel color scheme creates a tranquil, ethereal atmosphere, punctuated by deep, rich tones that catch the eye.
- Texture & Movement: Densely layered ferns, wild grasses, and wildflowers of varying heights create a relaxed, naturalistic depth.
- Habitat-First Planting: A Hawthorn tree anchors the space, supporting insect life above ground while its complex root system provides the ultimate hibernation spot for newts below.
- Broad-leaved pond plants like Myosotis scorpioides (Water Forget-Me-Not) offer vital protection for delicate newt eggs.
- A blend of UK native and non-native pollinator plants ensures a booming population of insects and invertebrates, the ultimate buffet for hungry amphibians.
Driven by Sustainability
True conservation means building mindfully. We have carefully designed this pocket to minimize environmental impact and maximize carbon reduction:
- Zero Cement: We avoided all hard landscaping for the central pond to keep our carbon footprint low.
- Circular Materials: The design utilises a recycled fleece liner, a durable, sustainable LDPE pond liner, and reclaimed rockery stones.
- Long-Term Storage: The lifespan of the Hawthorn tree ensures the garden continues to store carbon for years to come.
- Zero Waste: Every single plant pot used in the display will be returned to our sustainable nursery for recycling.
Life After the Show
This garden isn’t just for display, it’s built for the future. Once the RHS Badminton Flower Show concludes, the legacy lives on. All the planting will be carefully relocated and replanted at centre:mk, ensuring this thriving habitat continues to support local biodiversity long after the curtains close.
About Charlotte
Charlotte Connelly brings a unique blend of artistic vision and practical grit to garden design. Her approach is rooted in a simple philosophy: gardens should be beautiful, deeply connected to nature, and built to foster personal well-being.
Charlotte’s diverse background bridges the gap between theory and hands-on execution:
Charlotte earned a BA (Hons) in Art History in 2012, specialising her dissertation on the History of Garden Design to master landscape aesthetics.
Then spending five years working in the trenches as a hands-on landscaper, partnering on residential projects. This gave her a deep, first-hand understanding of garden construction, soil, and long-term maintenance.
Driven to design with the planet in mind, Charlotte earned a Diploma in Garden Design in 2018, subsequently running her own successful bespoke residential design business for five years.
Charlotte joined Urban Planters in 2023, where she seamlessly integrates her commitment to ecological responsibility into commercial and residential spaces. Always evolving, Charlotte recently completed a Level 2 certificate in Understanding Environmental Sustainability.
Today, her core passion lies in intricate planting designs that delight the senses while actively restoring local biodiversity.