Last chance to help shape the landscape of the London 2012 Olympics

Last chance to help shape the landscape of the London 2012 Olympics

On 31 July 2009, the RHS Olympic Park Great British Garden Competition will close to entries, meaning that if you want to win the chance of designing a garden for the London 2012 Olympics, you only have a few weeks to enter.

London 2012 has joined forces with the RHS to offer two budding gardeners the opportunity to help design a garden that will sit within the new Olympic Park in east London.

This garden will be a chance to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, our heritage as a nation of gardeners and the unique qualities found in Britain’s domestic gardens. We are looking for two winners, a young person (age 16 and under) and an adult, to help create a space that makes visitors to the park feel like they are wandering through someone’s garden.
The modern Olympic movement was founded by Pierre de Coubertin in 1894, after he was inspired by a visit to the Much Wenlock Olympic Society in Shropshire. To commemorate the Olympic link to the British Isles, we would like you to explore the possibility of incorporating a Pierre de Coubertin oak tree into your design idea.

This competition is open to everyone except professional garden designers. All we ask is that people either draw, paint, computer design or create a collage design idea for their garden on an A4 sheet of paper, and accompany it with a short explanatory note. The garden will measure a quarter of an acre (about a quarter of a football pitch) in size.

Read a copy of the terms and conditions or download an application form.

Top tips to think about when designing a garden

• Firstly, think of the Big Idea. What is the overall idea for your garden? Is it to celebrate a sense of national identity and diversity, the Olympic and Paralympic values or something else?
• Secondly, decide what the purpose of the garden should be. How should the garden be used? A space for relaxation, child play or a place to excite the senses?
• Thirdly, what is the style of your garden? Do you draw your references from pop culture or traditional garden designers? Is there a colour theme you would like to draw on?
• Fourthly, what plants and features do you want to include? How will you use the garden to showcase British plants? Do you want to include a water feature or commemorative tree in your design idea? Could you use recycled materials for your features?

The entries will be judged on the following criteria

A design idea that:

• Demonstrates the unique qualities of Britain’s domestic gardens
• Is forward looking and celebrates the UK’s favourite pastime of gardening
• Will leave a legacy for future generations to enjoy
• Celebrates the Olympic and Paralympic Values and the Much Wenlock Olympian Society, in particular exploring opportunities to include one or more Pierre de Coubertin oak trees in the design idea.

The closing date for the competition is 31 July 2009. Six finalists will be shortlisted by a panel of judges and then put forward for a public vote on the RHS website in September 2009. Winner will be notified in October 2009.

Read a copy of the terms and conditions or download an application form.