ERSKINE has been the Ideal Home Show’s charity partner for four years, each year telling a story of the armed forces. This year is going to follow the theme of the RAF in the Second World War, in memory of one of our residents who was an ex-602 Squadron corporal, Joe Parker, who passed away this year.
The garden was partly inspired by Joe and his story of flying home to Glasgow, the dear green place. The garden will have a one-third-size static Spitfire suspended over the battlefields, the sand and the sea. There will be a wall behind the garden, with a backdrop of poppies on one side and a story of the garden’s conception on the other.
Our ideas are inspired by our veterans, so the design comes from their lives and memories. It’s our chance to tell their story.
Each of our homes have outdoor spaces where veterans and families can do their own gardening. We hope to replicate a similar environment over the weekend, using strong aloe vera and lavender, similar to those in sensory gardens.
Erskine looks after veterans and their families across Scotland, finding homes for homeless veterans, so this work means a lot to us. We are often financially dependent upon charity and have been given equipment in kind, and have other things sponsored for the garden. Keeping it as low cost as possible is important. We rely upon people being generous to make these events happen. We are also thankful to have a few amazing volunteer apprentices to help us bring our garden to life.
One tip I would give gardeners is to think outside of the box. Do your research, but don’t limit yourself. Think of a theme, and use props to create a story within the garden, giving it a personal dimension.
If I had to pick a favourite plant, it would be the purple allium. Due to its length, it lends a real dimension to the garden, with its strong and bright hue lifting the atmosphere.
I used to work in the fashion industry but charity events are closest to my heart, offering an unparalleled sense of fulfilment. Even if you’ve had a bad day in the office, you can walk out and know everything you’re doing is for the good of these veterans.
The Ideal Home Show is my favourite event. We put our heart and soul into it. Last year at our navy themed garden, one of the navy veterans cried when he saw it. It was so rewarding to know we had made his story come to life. Hopefully this year will be a similar success.
The Ideal Home Show is the biggest event of its kind in Scotland, displaying kitchens, gardens, renovations and other inspiration for home design and shopping. It will run for four days with plenty of opportunity for people to pop down and visit the Erskine stand and everything else the show has to offer.
The Ideal Home Show 2017 runs from May 26 to 29 at the SEC, Glasgow.
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