Designer: Sarah Eberle. Sponsor: Bradstone. Contractor: Hillier Landscapes

(© Troika Photos)

Not just a gold medal, but best in show, we found this garden intriguing but wouldn't be able to put many of the ideas into practice in our plot, as fortunately our Cheshire environment is not as harsh as that on Mars. But for those of you affected by drought, there were plenty of planting ideas, including a range of cacti, but these also need free-draining soils to survive those prolonged wet periods that occur the minute a hosepipe ban is announced. Go to our forum for the plant list.

Why best in show?

Every year, visitors who prefer a completely different garden puzzle over the judges' choice of best in show, but you have to remember that the gardens are not only judged on what's on view to visitors, but on how much they match the original brief. Gardens are judged on the quality of the design, planting and construction, plus the designer's interpretation of the garden's theme, and the overall impression it gives.

Exhibitor's blurb provided before the show:

This garden is a terrestrial space garden (in an assumed dome) on planet Mars. The garden belongs to an astronaut on a 600-day tour and explores the psychological importance of man's relationship with his environment.

The garden has been researched for eight years with input from the European Space Agency (ESA), which is researching the psychological effects of spending long periods in space, and the British Science Museum. All materials and construction processes are within the realms of scientific possibility.

The garden is partially dug into the planet surface and has rigid vertical sides

and a Kevlar canopy. Concrete panels, made from materials closest to those

found on Mars, represent the lower vertical sides of the dome.

The garden is divided into two interlocking spaces with different functions.

There is a geyser at the front of the garden, where water is extracted

from the permafrost and forms a fine mist as it emerges from the ground.

This water is transferred via steel masts to irrigate plants. The majority of this

area is for food and multiple function plant material.

The rear of the garden is for relaxation and interaction with the plants, contributing to biomass and psychological support. Here there is a rest pod,

which helps to support psychological health and prevent fatigue and

disorientation, and three large hanging bowls and hanging seat. Paving

throughout the garden echoes the scorched clay polygons of Alaska's permafrost, which closely resemble patterns seen on Mars.

Sarah Eberle, the garden's designer, selected the plants in this garden for their

contribution to biomass and the carbon-oxygen cycle, medicine, food and

psychological support. Planting has been chosen based on research that

suggests the varieties could be grown on Mars. Plants include coffee, wheat

and olive oil for diet; opium poppy and aloha for medicinal needs.