From Chelsea Gold to Sheffield’s Skyline

From Chelsea Gold to Sheffield’s Skyline: Award-Winning RHS Garden Takes Root at Park Hill

CPRE’s Garden of the Year-winning On the Edge begins its new life as a community green space in Sheffield

The Campaign to Protect Rural England’s (CPRE) On the Edge garden, which won both a prestigious Gold Medal and Garden of the Year, has been relocated from Chelsea to the iconic Park Hill estate, creating a permanent green space for residents and visitors to enjoy.

The move transforms a temporary show garden into a lasting community legacy, bringing together nature, heritage and Yorkshire craftsmanship in one of Sheffield’s most recognisable locations.

Designed by acclaimed garden designer Sarah Eberle and supported by Project Giving Back, On the Edge tells the story of the countryside that surrounds England’s towns and cities. Often overlooked, these “edgelands” are under growing pressure from development and neglect, despite their importance for wildlife, climate resilience and public wellbeing.

Now, after winning the highest honours at the world’s most famous flower show, the garden’s future lies in a city with a deep connection to CPRE’s history and the birth of the Green Belt movement.

A Garden with Sheffield at its Heart

From its inception, On the Edge has been rooted in the idea that nature should be woven into everyday life. Its relocation to Park Hill brings that vision to life, creating a place where people can gather, reflect and reconnect with nature.

At the heart of the garden stands Gaia, a striking guardian figure carved from fallen mature trees by champion chainsaw artist Chris Wood. Flowing willow structures by sculptor Tom Hare and a handcrafted dry-stone wall built by fifth-generation Yorkshire wallers Lydia and Cuthbert Noble weave through plants, creating a landscape inspired by the wild beauty of the urban fringe.

Every key element of the garden, from the stonework to the sculpture, has made the journey from Chelsea to Sheffield, ensuring the spirit of the garden lives on long after the show has ended.

Roger Mortlock, Chief Executive of CPRE, said:

“We want people to love the countryside that’s right on their doorstep. We’re especially excited that On the Edge will be relocated to Sheffield, where it can continue inspiring people every day. Sheffield holds a special place in CPRE’s history. Some of the earliest calls for a Green Belt began here, led by the remarkable Ethel Haythornthwaite. It feels fitting that this garden, which celebrates the relationship between towns, cities and the countryside that surrounds them, will have a permanent home in a city that helped shape that vision.”

Creating a Lasting Legacy

Following the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the garden was carefully dismantled and has been reimagined at Park Hill, the landmark Grade II* listed development that has been transformed in recent years by Urban Splash and Places for People.

Speaking on behalf of the joint venture partnership, Sian Stanhope said:
“We’re genuinely thrilled to be partnering with CPRE on this project. This beautiful garden will create an inspiring new green space for residents and visitors while building on the landscape and community spaces already established at Park Hill.”

For the team behind the garden, its relocation is about much more than preserving a Chelsea exhibit. It is about proving that green spaces can bring life, connection and pride to urban communities.
Dry-stone waller Lydia Noble, who was born in Sheffield, said:

“It’s always wonderful when gardens are relocated because so many more people get the chance to enjoy them. Knowing that this one is coming to Sheffield makes it especially meaningful.”

From Show Garden to Shared Space

As CPRE marks its centenary year, On the Edge carries a powerful message: the countryside on the edges of our towns and cities matters.

By moving from the global stage of RHS Chelsea to the heart of Sheffield, the garden will become a living example of how overlooked spaces can be transformed into places of beauty, belonging and renewal.

Learn about CPRE Peak District and South Yorkshire’s work to support the countryside.