A yr after turning into one in every of Professional Landscaper’s 30 Beneath 30: The Subsequent Era winners, Rachel Platt has scooped a hat-trick of awards at this yr’s RHS Flower Present Tatton Park, together with the coveted Folks’s Selection Award.
Platt’s present backyard at this years Tatton Park, ‘Chained to Tech’ in partnership with J. Parkers, explores the behavioural and psychological repercussions of extreme screen-based know-how utilization in younger folks.
Marvel Wolf Pictures Headshot of Rachel Platt“The theme was essential to me as a result of I’ve skilled it myself, and I believe everybody I’ve spoken to has a son or a daughter that’s hooked on know-how in a roundabout way,” explains the 26-year-old designer.
A 2021 examine of 1,043 college students performed at King’s Faculty London discovered that just about 39% displayed signs of smartphone habit, with 68% of these expressing hassle with sleeping in consequence.
“It’s having a large influence on peoples wellbeing and their well being basically; it’s a very essential subject to be speaking about it.”
Platt’s design encompasses the world of digital habit by way of visible illustration in each the laborious and mushy landscaping components of the backyard.
“The development detailing was primarily based mostly on elements of know-how, like binary, circuit boards, and USB drives.
“I used weathered supplies to symbolism whenever you’re utilizing a whole lot of know-how you’re not taking care of your physique.”
The planting comprised of drought tolerant species, together with Phormium tenax and Punica granatum to symbolise the dry eyes attributable to prolonged display time, with the colourful colors of yellow Eremurus (foxtail lily), and blue Agapanthus to indicate the vibrancy of screens, unmatched by actuality.
Credit score @ RHS“Numerous folks have interpreted it in several methods however I’d say primarily it’s to do with the results of technological habit in the truth that it’s that prompt gratification and euphoric feeling you get.”
In parallel to exhibiting the results of digital habit and their potential severity, Platt drew consideration to the a number of wellbeing advantages accessible inside nature that may offset the downward spiral of habit.
“It’s a troublesome to get a younger grownup off the pc however once they do exit into nature, they do put down their cellphone away, even when it’s for simply 15 seconds.
“Simply going outdoors does assist and I’ve seen it assist folks, so I believe that’s the hyperlink there, I needed that take house message to be that horticulture actually might help.”
Chained to Tech isn’t Platt’s first exploration into the advantages of horticulture at Tatton, together with her 2022 award-winning debut ‘The Covid Restoration Backyard’, designed to exhibit the bodily and physiological therapeutic properties accessible by way of nature, relocated to an area hospital to offer a recuperation sanctuary for sufferers affected by long-covid.
“It’s all the time good to spotlight one thing like this. I don’t do small issues, I speak about fairly darkish, deep issues.”
With Tatton now closed and three new awards beneath her belt, together with Greatest Building and a Silver Gilt medal, Platt is now focusing her efforts on an upcoming challenge in Edinburgh, of which she couldn’t disclose an excessive amount of info on, however watch this area.
Should you’re interested by coming into this yr’s Professional Landscaper’s 30 Beneath 30: The Subsequent Era in partnership with Inexperienced-tech, otherwise you’d wish to nominate somebody for the celebrated award, yow will discover extra info right here.
