We’re so excited to be working with garden designer Ashleigh Aylett and sponsors Navium Marine on a Blue Garden for this year’s Chelsea Flower Show! The design is inspired by Blue Mind Theory, the idea developed by marine biologist Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, that being near water can have calming, restorative effects on our mental wellbeing.
Ashleigh joined one of our Blue Mind sessions in Plymouth to see this in action and used that experience to shape a garden that reflects the peace, clarity, and connection people feel around the Ocean. Ashleigh shared with us the inspiration behind the garden, the sustainable techniques used, and how anyone can bring a bit of Blue Mind into their own space.
Where did the vision for a Blue Mind inspired garden come from?
The vision grew from my interest in how water affects our emotional wellbeing — a concept known as “Blue Mind”, coined by marine biologist Dr Wallace J. Nichols. It describes the meditative calm we feel when we’re near water. I wanted to explore how that theory could be brought to life in a compact, everyday setting — like a balcony. Collaborating with the Ocean Conservation Trust gave the idea real depth, connecting not just to our own inner calm but also to our shared responsibility to protect our oceans.
Which element are you most excited about with the garden you have designed for Chelsea flower show?
It’s hard to choose, but I’m particularly excited about the ripple-effect cladding and the central water feature. Both are designed to celebrate the sensory experience of water — the sound, the movement, and the way light dances across the surface.
What are some of the innovative or sustainable techniques you’re using in your garden?
We’re using Olla irrigation to cut water waste by up to 50%, and Shellstone tiles made from discarded seashells collected from London restaurant Wright Brothers. The garden also features peat-free compost, natural clay plasters, and 95% recycled steel — all chosen to minimise impact and celebrate reuse.
What are the biggest challenges you faced designing this garden?
Capturing the essence of Blue Mind within such a small footprint was one of the biggest challenges. I wanted the garden to feel immersive and calming, despite its compact scale. Every element had to work hard — visually, emotionally, and sustainably — without crowding the space. On top of that, designing for Chelsea adds its own pressures, from logistics to time constraints.
What are you most excited about visitors experiencing in your garden?
I hope visitors are surprised by how immersive a small space can feel. The sound of water, the movement of soft coastal planting, the textures of the materials — all working together to offer a sensory pause.
How can someone bring blue mind into their garden at home?
Start with water — it doesn’t have to be complicated. A shallow bowl with pebbles, a container water feature, or even something reflective can create the sensory calm associated with Blue Mind. Pair that with coastal-style planting in cool tones of blue, green, and silver — like Stachys byzantina or Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ — and you’re on your way. Think texture, sound, and light.
If I don’t have a garden, how can I incorporate blue mind into smaller spaces such as balconies and windowsills?
Even the smallest space can offer a moment of calm. A simple bowl of water on a windowsill can reflect the sky and invite stillness. Surround it with silvery or blue-toned plants, or place shells, sea glass, or smooth pebbles nearby to evoke a coastal feeling.
Once the show is over, the Blue Mind garden won’t be disappearing, it’s being relocated to the National Marine Aquarium’s outdoor Sea-cret Garden as part of our Blue Mind Community Initiative, where it will continue to support wellbeing in the community. Volunteers will help care for the space, making it a permanent, calming feature for visitors to enjoy.