A GARDEN co-designed by a Chard expert has been awarded a prestigious gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Somerset-based Joshua Parker co-designed the Gates Foundation Garden of the Future, which has scooped the top accolade at the London show.

The design features innovations helping farmers in the Global South as they battle the climate crisis, with the likes of chickpeas, sweet potatoes and an innovative new toilet all playing a starring role.

The gold-winning show garden features a wide array of nutritious, climate-resilient crops developed by CGIAR, as well as Cranfield University’s Circular Toilet, which converts household-generated wastewater into clean, non-potable water for irrigation, and pathogen-free biochar for garden use.

READ MORE: Somerset designer behind Garden of the Future at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

“In sub-Saharan Africa, most of the 1.2 billion population work in agriculture, a sector that accounts for about 20 percent of the region’s GDP,” said Ana Maria Loboguerrero, director of adaptive and equitable food systems at the Gates Foundation.

“Harsher weather conditions are already taking their toll on the heath and livelihoods across the continent but progress is possible.

“Despite these huge challenges, there are many solutions being developed by scientists, innovators and growers around the world.

The garden features a range of innovations helping farmers in the Global South. Picture: Gates Archive/Emma Jacobs

“Our Garden of the Future recognises a number of these solutions; and I’m thrilled that the garden, in turn, has been recognised by RHS Chelsea.”

The Garden of the Future aims to inspire visitors to believe in the power of innovation and collaboration to unlock human potential around the world, she added.

And Joshua and Matt said they were “absolutely thrilled” to land the top award.

“The main theme of this garden is how powerful collaboration can be, and what better way to celebrate that than winning the top award from the RHS judges,” said the pair, who work under the name Butler & Parker.

“We hope show visitors will be inspired by the climate-resilient plants and innovations the garden is highlighting, and take away some ideas for their own gardens at home.”

Garden designers Matt Butler and Joshua Parker. Picture: Gates Archive/Emma Jacobs

The garden was officially opened by celebrity chef and entrepreneur Levi Roots, who put on a cooking demonstration using some of the edible crops from the no-dig vegetable patch, alongside CGIAR’s Dr Clare Mukankusi, an agricultural scientist and Global Breeding Lead for the Common Bean at the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture in Kampala, Uganda.

Levi said: “I’m really excited to be involved in this inspirational initiative, shedding a light on sustainable farming and cooking which is close to my heart.”

Now, the garden is looking for public votes in the RHS People’s Choice Awards, running in the Smaller Show Garden and All About Plants Garden category.

Voting closes on Thursday (May 22) at 7pm, and the winner will be announced on Friday.

Levi Roots held a cooking demonstration to launch the Garden of the Future. Picture: Garden designers Matt Butler and Joshua Parker. Picture: Gates Archive/Emma Jacobs

The Garden of the Future has scooped a gold award at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show