Clump-forming deciduous grass that is 2.1- 2.4m in height, with narrow, linear grey-green leaves. Slender, airy plumes of tiny, dark purple flowers, on strongly upright yellow-tinted stems, are held high above the foliage from summer to autumn. The stems and leaves turn golden-yellow by late autumn.
RNIB Legacy Garden: RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse 2025
A watercolour illustration of the RNIB Legacy Garden at RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse. It features two lattice pods surrounded by green trees and colourful flowers. The setting is designed to be accessible and provide a rich sensory experience.
The award-winning RNIB Legacy Garden was designed to honour those who have generously left gifts in Wills to RNIB.
The RNIB Legacy Garden celebrates the lasting difference that gifts in Wills make on the lives of blind and partially sighted people. This garden was made possible thanks to funds raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery. The garden was designed to be welcoming and accessible to everyone.
The RNIB Legacy Garden won a Gold Medal, Best Show Garden, Best Constriction and was Highly Commended for Sustainability.
The logos of People's Postcode Lottery and Postcode Care Trust.
Meet our garden designer
The garden was brought to life by award-winning designer, Paul Hervey-Brookes. He has built a strong reputation for landscapes and gardens that rely on planting to create spaces and rich, multi-layered habitats. His ability to read landscapes and evoke intense feelings and emotions has won him acclaim across the board. Paul’s awards include winning two gold medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
“It's been such a privilege to be able to bring this garden to life. There are two million people in the UK affected by sight loss, but somehow it isn't talked about as much as it should be. One of my aims for the garden was to raise awareness and enable people to experience some of the challenges of living with sight loss. I hope that the garden gave a platform for RNIB to talk about how Gifts in Wills support their vital work. I wanted any visitor to the garden to feel that they were entering a tranquil space where they could pause and reflect on how leaving a legacy, no matter its size, can make a real impact.”
Paul is sat in a chair wearing a t-shirt and cord trousers with a brown dog by his legs.
Features of the garden
Sight pods
Step into one of our garden pods, designed with sweet chestnut shaped into a lattice covered with transparent canvas. Inside, you’ll experience what it’s like to have an eye condition, such as retinitis pigmentosa or diabetic retinopathy, helping you see the world from a different perspective.
Oak pontoon
Feel the gentle movement of an oak pontoon as you step out into the planting. Experience the sensation of stepping out into the planting along an oak pontoon. This walkway experience gives you a small glimpse into the uncertainty that people with sight loss face every day.
Natural materials
Everything in our garden is built with sustainability in mind. We’ve chosen natural materials to create an immersive space that connects you with nature.
Get to know our plants
Discover some of the plants that feature in the garden.
View the full list of plants on this document (PDF Version)
View the full list of plants on this document (Word Version)
A mat-forming perennial to around 20cm high, with aromatic, deeply lobed, semi-evergreen foliage. Bright, magenta-pink flowers appear in late spring and early summer.
A clump-forming perennial, up to around 70cm high, with upright stems and aromatic narrow, woolly grey-green leaves. Dense spikes of violet blue flowers are produced throughout the summer.
Leave a legacy that lasts
A gift in your Will helps fund life-changing practical and emotional support for people with sight loss. Get your free Will Guide today and find out how you can make a lasting impact.